2009-2017 Chevy Traverse water pump replacement

How to replace the water pump on a Chevrolet TrAVERse, or Buick Enclave. 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 remove removal replace
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Rust Belt Auto, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. Rust Belt Auto assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this video at your own risk. Rust Belt Auto recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Rust Belt Auto, No information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.

[@Zokfend]

Thank you for this video. I replaced the water pump on my 2012 traverse yesterday following this video. Probably took me 4 hours solo. I didn't have a car lift or jack stands, so I just used the jack. I think the biggest pain was the amount of space to work with while laying on my back. Basically a one-arm job (blood drains from your arm pretty quickly). Second biggest pain was the serpentine belt, but I think that was really just me wanting to be done and that was the last tricky thing left to put on. I was at first struggling to get the top two bolts of the pump housing reinserted b/c from below I couldn't see the screw holes from below. But the upper view hole in the wheel well helps; I just had to remove that diagonal bumper rod to give room for my head to get in front of that upper view hole of the wheel well. Bought new pump from O'Reilly ($80). I had to buy a 19MM deep socket ($6). Gasket sealer ($6). Two gallons of 50/50 dexcool ($40). I had everything else. I also replaced the serpentine belt ($40). Thanks again for this video, I'm sure it saved me hundreds of dollars!!

[@wilfredosantos9451]

Thank you for the step by step video helped me get the job done today

[@gilbertsotoj2841]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed for my Traverse!

[@d.mar.2624]

Thanks for uploading this. Videos like these really help and I like watching random repair videos. I'll be getting close to doing mine here in the future. My 17 traverse just hit 90k miles.

[@pcnut45840]

Thank you!!! Very informative. Took us 4 hrs total to replace on a 2012 Chevy Volt. Used Jack Stands. Toughest part was getting the Waterpump down and out. Very little Clearance.. Had to use prybar to move the engine about a quarter inch to get in and out. Very tight but can be done! Then next two person job is to hold tensioner and get belt back onto the Pulleys.

[@RustBeltAuto]

Yes. The last one I did, I used a ratcheting strap to pull the engine over.

[@alonzoboyd8636]

Hey either one of you know why my 2012 traverse won't start? Bought new battery and my alternator is less then 5 months old and it won't even start with a jump! Please help if you can please n thanks

[@ozonespec]

Nice clear video, straight to the point. Awesome!

[@KevinNeustadter]

You can also go at it from above. Just have to remove the fuse box and some brackets. A bit of work for that, but easier when you do it this way. When you get the top stuff off, the water pump is right there. Not a bad idea to replace the serpentine belt, too with this

[@thomasbartlett3409]

Great video and thanks for sharing!!

[@anowzanaw879]

Thank you man you video is really clear

[@RustBeltAuto]

Welcome!

[@udumkopf8217]

Thanks for editing the video.

[@rayceballos8316]

Great video Brother... I just replaced the idler pully. I'm sure I'm eventually going to replace the water pump

[@rayceballos8316]

I just replaced the water pump, your video helped a lot...

[@victorramosjr2239]

Did you make a video. I took my wife's Traverse to a mechanic and he says he can't get the idler pulley bolt or belt tensioner bolt out because it's putting up against the unibody. There's got to be a trick to it

[@hassanbourobira4874]

Thank you l due this job my car runs perfect Thank you

[@al52269]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. New subscriber here from Philadelphia PA USA

[@fernandogalvantorres7223]

Muchísimas gracias por el video

[@chori160790]

Thank you for this video i replaced the water pump on mi saturn outlock

[@muiltirelojero]

Ok, never mind I got it now. Thanks

[@KCSMILEY816]

Thank you great video bouta so my water pump

[@donshields4470]

You did good!

[@abelmorales4303]

Anybody know if the pulled bolts are the same as the water pump bolts? I’m replacing the pulley as well as the pump. Pulley didn’t come with bolts. Seems like the water pump bolts for it though.

[@ecrusch]

Boy, they sure as hell don't give you very much room to get around in there. I'd never get my big old meat-hooks in there. Really like your videos man. I always pick up a good tip or two. Thanks

[@RustBeltAuto]

Thanks for watching!

[@RustBeltAuto]

There is about 1 1/2-2" around just about everything in this whole engine compartment. It's all crammed in there, like engineers had an engine, and transmission on the floor, and said "okay we only need a box this big". Ridiculous POS.

[@jaimerivera2023]

have a 2016 traverse and for a period of time the temperature has been going over 210. It fluctuates between 215-230. It only does it when going slow or idling. I have checked the coolant and it is to the fill line. I’m having the whole coolant changed on Friday. I have read that maybe there is air in the system. But I am also wondering if it could be something more. The fan stays on after turning it off and while running it gets so loud like I have never heard it before

[@dominicmarinelli6072]

It’s your coolant temperature sensor. I’ve done it twice on this car for the same symptoms you describe. There are some good videos on it if you look.

[@user-gl9vf9ur8v]

شكرا جزيلا ❤❤❤❤

[@xXEvangelXx]

4:55 are little paper gasket jobbies generally okay if you have a good technique? In the Meeeaata world everyone says they are worthless compared to OEM steel gaskets, but if paper gaskets all leak, why sell them!?

[@josephlieberman3027]

imagine something like a cold war or non traditional war, the enemy intentionally alters certain things like gaskets on all consumer export items, example Harbor freight generator, i was told by someone, always upgrade the paper gaskets to improve longevity of your machine.

[@majordog85]

Good vid

[@Ucharlie]

Thank you

[@zeretube]

Hello, thanks for the video, question, if the pump is not leaking can it still be bad, that it could be pumping lower flow than needed?

[@RustBeltAuto]

I would say no. Your impeller would need to be broken, or rusted apart.

[@victorramosjr2239]

Can you please do a video on how to replace the belt tensioner AND idler pulley on this same vehicle? Ours is a 2015, & the mechanic I took it to couldn't pull the bolt out all the way that holds the idler pulley in place. He said the bolt was too long & hits on the unibody, & wouldn't come out all the way. So he wasn't able to change out my idler pulley and belt tensioner. I was in denial because I was hoping to get these 2 swapped out with the new belt & water pump just as a preventative measure, not because they were bad. (I had already bought the parts). Please help!

[@RustBeltAuto]

If it's not broke, don't fix it.

[@jimmcneill6504]

Idler pulley also holds the alternator in place. You will have to remove the alternator partly of the way, up about 6 inches, then the pulley and bolt can come out.

[@wadetaylor3195]

Just curious, my 2016 Acadia has 68k miles, I’m gonna do a fluid change soon, is this a good time to replace the water pump & thermo, belt, if I wanted to be proactive? Feel free to talk me out of it.

[@RustBeltAuto]

If it's not broke, don't fix it.

[@ferndog1461]

Change your oil , regularly. Change your tranny fluid every 60K. Watch your coolant reservoir, weekly. Peace.

[@ontop4eternity706]

Thanks

[@abelmorales4303]

Is the pulley supposed to rotate? My new pulley does not rotate. There is a squealing noise now. Belt broke. Bought a new one. Still squealing. I see the pulley isn’t rotating. Is that why it’s squealing?

[@RustBeltAuto]

I think you are answering your own questions.

[@brandonnguyen1486]

Is the 2014 slightly different? I don't have enough clearance to slide the water pump in

[@RustBeltAuto]

@@brandonnguyen1486 did you get it out?

[@ishmaelwilliams304]

Awesome video! Will this work for 2009-2017 awesome ? This looks way too easy for a $600-$1200 price tag!!

[@mjb12141963]

If you have a lift and skinny arms, it might be an easier job. If you are doing this on your back, take the harmonic balancer off before you try anything. I had to get the Hercules brand power ratchet that has a skinny long reach and grind down a 10mm socket almost half way to reach the top left or top middle bolt, however you look at it, to remove and to tighten it.

[@AbbGho]

Hi question is if I take it to mechanic to get the job done how much labor you think he should charge me for if I buy the parts thanks

[@RustBeltAuto]

I dont know

[@chrispisano5791]

There was also a metal gasket, dunno if that was supposed to come off as well.

[@sirsweetness8332]

3.6 V6?

[@johnny2024]

Had to pry engine away from wall to slide out the old one

[@brokncolrbone251]

How exactly in the hell did you, get that to come out the bottom? I had toget it from the top of the engine

[@RustBeltAuto]

Hell is for children.

[@romancanales573]

​@@RustBeltAuto 😂 savage

[@muiltirelojero]

How did you adjust the tension on the belt, and actually, what is the tension value? Thanks

[@RustBeltAuto]

The sound of twang?

[@joelharper9379]

@@RustBeltAuto you don't adj. tension , the tensioner does it !

[@zekemowad6501]

🤣🤣

[@zekemowad6501]

@@RustBeltAuto 🤪

[@romancanales573]

Good lord just leave your wrench 🔧 at the 🚪

[@godovermoney1124]

I did mine from the top. Way better procedure

[@itsgoff]

Which one is a way better procedure? Your way from the top or the way shown in the video?

[@derek20052]

Yea that job was easy mine now I taking 2 days and on going suxks the water pump won't go easy like yours mine is stuck

[@midmonobody411]

I thought those pulley bolts was torque to yield

[@RustBeltAuto]

Well, if a good book, and an engineer says so, than I guess they are. Fortunately, I only know if i'm wrong, if I get a comeback, and I have not heard hell, or high water from this one, so I guess it's fixed. Thanks for watching!

[@frododaddins]

Idk if you’ll see this sense the video is 2 years old now, but how do I burp it?

[@RustBeltAuto]

Run the car until the fans come on. The thermostat should open. Shut it off, let it cool off, so there is no pressure, and check the coolant. You can run it with the cap off, until the level goes down, but it can get messy, and burn you, if you don't know what you are doing.

[@frododaddins]

@@RustBeltAuto thank you! Your video is about to save me about a grand!

[@john1240able]

How many miles on it.

[@RustBeltAuto]

I don't know?

[@john1240able]

All right man.

[@RustBeltAuto]

@@john1240able If I remember correctly, It was right around 120k.

[@john1240able]

Rust Belt Auto Thanks.

[@zekemowad6501]

Nice when you have a Lift. Try doing this job on the ground 😫

[@bloxkboitv6563]

Anybody ever told you you sound like Ted/ Peter griffin ? Lol

[@ateam6486]

There is no radiator drain on this car. I just put in new radiator. 3.6 2012 Traverse

[@davidarroyo8831]

They also said you need to use new bolts

[@RustBeltAuto]

A lot of engineer type manuals tell you that. If it means that much to you, have at it.

[@fuiwfnbnufjehnfojui4251]

These bolts ARE torque to yield with instructions to torque ~89 in. lb once and then do it again and then turn each bolt 45 degrees. As far as I am concerned, saving ~$20 isn't worth snapping an old bolt but I guess I am a worrier.

[@RustBeltAuto]

@@fuiwfnbnufjehnfojui4251 89in lbs is standard torque for 6x1mm bolt. There is nothing on these bolts that indicate they are torque to yield. It is hard for any tech to believe everything you read.

[@fuiwfnbnufjehnfojui4251]

@@RustBeltAuto if 89 in/lb is the standard and you then proceed to go beyond that, is that not beyond what the bolt was made for making it unwise to continue using said bolt. Like I said, no reason to turn a $100-$120 job into a several hundred because you now have a snapped bolt that is near impossible to get to without lowering your engine. Edit: That said, I have seen people re use the same bolts several times and that's fine, to each their own.

[@RustBeltAuto]

@fuiwfnb nufjehnfojui torque to yield bolts are usually grade 10. They also usually need to be quite long, because they Are designed to create tension on the bolt like a spring. When some engineer says a dinky little bolt is torque to yield, I question it, and probably will not believe it. In my lifetime, I have seen them be wrong a lot.

[@cohesivekarma1525]

You gotta be from the northeast some where.

[@cohesivekarma1525]

Very insightful video. Gonna do mine now. Thanks man..

[@RustBeltAuto]

MN

[@joenunez5450]

The water pump bolt at the very top is almost impossible to get to, much less unscrew 🤦

[@gototcm]

Wipe pulleys of all coolant - Dex Cool eats serpintine belts. The clips are called "scrivets."

[@RustBeltAuto]

I thought that dex cool has 2eha in it, which is a known plasticizer? How does this coolant "eat" a belt?

[@gototcm]

@@RustBeltAuto Yes it does contain 2eha. Dex Cool (an OAT antifreeze) has been controversial since its introduction in 1996. Dex Cool has lubricating properties. If it gets on the serpintine belt, the belt may slip and over time, may cause the belt to glaze or harden. You will never hear that from GM but from user experience. A small amount is likely not a problem but if the pulleys and belt get soaked it may. You can check the Internet for people complaining (to this day) about Dex Cool eating gaskets and rubber. An ounce of prevention is to clean the pulley and belt. BTW, nice video.

[@RustBeltAuto]

@@gototcm is that the old dex cool, or the new dex cool. I think they changed it into the silicate free stuff everyone else packages in a variety different colors.

[@gototcm]

@@RustBeltAuto According to GM and Delco, the new Extended Life Dex Cool (the OAT product) is supposed to solve the problem of sludge buildup and softening of gaskets but there is still anecdotal reports of premature gasket wear or water pump failure. The auto companies do a lot of testing but there is a limit to how much testing can simulate all user operating conditions.

[@Cr8azlifestyle]

Nice video but gosh dang am I the only one that couldn’t get the pump to drop down easily like you made it seem in all reality you need to pull out fuse box and top hose and motor bracket just so you don’t damage it with a prybar as the engine block everything nowadays made out of aluminum it’s crazy how they charge close to 1000 to replacing them

[@RustBeltAuto]

Mechanical minds think through things, sometimes in strange ways. That was the answer in the moment. Might be different everywhere else. Thanks for watching!

[@robertandjaymedecker8896]

Didn’t have time to DIY. Stealership charged 1100.$

[@ferndog1461]

Gotta ask your buddies for the phone number for dealership mechanic that does work on the weekends.

[@abowen519]

For those whose pump doesn’t just drop down I was able to get mine out up and around the back of the engine after removing the fuse box. It sucked

[@RustBeltAuto]

10 pounds of poo in a 5 pound can?

[@abowen519]

@@RustBeltAuto this is the traverse way

[@WVRunningDon]

2014? I can't get it past what looks like a coolant line. How did you get it out?

[@abowen519]

@@WVRunningDon we literally just monkeyed it around until we found a place for it it pop up the back. The fuse box has to come out first though. Make sure if you take it out that you screw the 2 yellow tab screws all the way...or itll make for a very fun next drive. Ask me how I know.

[@WVRunningDon]

@@abowen519 I have been at this all day. Was yours a 2014? I've changed water pumps before without all this. Those screws are probably grounds. Right.

[@godovermoney1124]

But who has a Lift? Trust me when you're doing it on the ground or on your garage floor it is a nightmare

[@munekoloko5889]

😂😂😂😂

[@SuperM1687]

This thing is a total rebuild. Must be a woman involved. lol

[@RustBeltAuto]

Yes, and I'm not done yet. It came back on me.

[@SuperM1687]

Something new or something you did wrong? Looking forward to the video if there is one.

[@RustBeltAuto]

@@SuperM1687 you will see.

[@zekemowad6501]

Nightmare job! I did mine from the top. Much easier.

[@davidarroyo8831]

I did it from the top and were a pain , i will try from bottom is leaking k guess cause a bolt broke on me, now i only have 5 bolts

[@itsgoff]

Which way is much easier? From the top or this way?