How to: Replace a Drive belt, Water Pump and Thermostat on a 2002 Chevrolet Tracker ZR2 (3-in-1)

In this "How to" episode, we will be replacing 3 things, Drive belt, Water Pump and Thermostat on a 2002 Chevrolet Tracker with a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine.
This also applies to the models of Trackers with the same engine and platform (Geo Tracker, Suzuki Tracker, etc). Same Basic concept with maybe a few minor variations..
This video is very thorough on every steps, and we have tried to include every data like bolt size, bolt location, reference diagram, torque specs, etc, that you will need to tackle this project.
We hope that our effort will help you in your future projects, and serve as reference on your vehicle repairs.
Thank you for watching our videos! Let us know if you have some requests. We will try to accommodate as much as we can!
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[@gordongruener6513]

Good video I'm just replacing thermostat but the entire video was educational. Thanks!

[@How2Helen]

That is our goal, to make educational videos. Thank you for the kind words. Hope it helps with your thermostat replacement. Thank you for watching! - Rjeff H2H

[@sulljason]

The Dayco kit comes with an o-ring that seals the housing to the block I can't tell if you replaced it. And I guess for future people watching the video there's an AISIN (Toyota) thermostat that's compatible. Both Japanese so likely the same supplier, looks identical to the OEM one and Amazon sells it directly. THS-005

[@user-ye1oh4sw9w]

ماهو الزيت المناسب للجيربكس؟

[@Gyppor]

Thanks for the video, it helped a lot. The design of the water pump on this vehicle seems poor, I could only get to the lower rear housing bolt using a ratcheting wrench. What a pain in the a$$! Unfortunately changing the water pump didn't resolve my overheating issue... It made it worse!

[@How2Helen]

Hello. You might have an air bubble in the system if it got worse. Try burping the system first. Then, buy the head gasket tester from walmart online so you can determine if you have a head gasket issue. If you don’t have a head gasket issue, and you don’t overheat city driving, but overheat on the highway, it might be your radiator clogged up. The added flow is too much for the radiator to cool down if it is clogged up. If you overheat driving around the city, then check the fan and/or relay. Hope that information helps. Good luck. Thank you for watching! - Rjeff H2H

[@Gyppor]

Hi Jeff, Thanks a lot for all the info! I will look into the head gasket tool. After driving a bit it's back to what it was doing before. It overheats only at low RPM, be it highway or idling. 3200+ rpm will cause it to drop quickly, so I thought the pump was going and not pumping enough at low rpm, but it doesn't seem to be the case. Now to replace the thermostat which I just did 2 years ago, should have done it while I had the pump out! Lesson learned.@@How2Helen

[@How2Helen]

@@Gyppor If it does not overheat on the highway, it might not be the thermostat. Because it means it opens porperly to prevent the cooling system from overheating. So focus on fan and fan components. Check our video on PT Cruiser low speed fan relay. On that car, the relay for the low speed fan is busted, which was causing the car to overheat on low speed. Easy way to check is when you have your AC on, when the AC compressor kicks on, the Low speed fan should run as well. If it does not run with the AC compressor, check the low speed relay, and the fuse as well. Another way to check, if you are technical, try to send direct power to the fan. If it keeps the temperature in tact or low, then there is an issue with your fan relay, fuse or even Fan relay module. Hope that helps! - Rjeff H2H

[@sulljason]

@@How2Helen Ya at idle you'll hear a click and the electric fan on the AC radiator will scream like a banshee. It's like nice engine so quiet. .. Click VROOOOOOMMMM.

[@fredrichards9874]

My plastic thermostat housing bottom bolt was in direct Line with the AC connection on that square block.. I had to pop that freon line off to get that bottom bolt out. Freon & freon lubricant everywhere..

[@jesiah1992]

Going to be doing this tomorrow had the parts already ordered but my thermostat just went so thought I’d do both thanks for the help :)

[@How2Helen]

Hello. Be sure to get quality thermostat. You don’t want to do this twice. Its not hard, but its still a pain. Lol. Thank you for watching and subscribing! -Rjeff H2H

[@isidroadolfolopez695]

Muchas gracias, magnífica información .

[@TheNolo69]

Thank you, I alredy did it. Less than ten minutes. Thanks a lot.

[@How2Helen]

We are glad to be able to help. Thank you for watching! -Rjeff H2H

[@ounkhamvongkhamphanh2536]

Thanks it was a big help 👍

[@How2Helen]

Great to hear our video was helpful. Thank you for watching! -Rjeff H2H

[@zensaldivar4812]

Your videos are very well made. I would love to continue seeing more on the tracker!

[@How2Helen]

Thank you for the kind words. So far, the Tracker is running smoothly so we really have no repair videos to show..Well I hope I didn't jinx myself, lol. Thank you for watching - Rjeff H2H

[@talmagetrujillo637]

@@How2Helen What about a puck lift for the tracker? I am thinking of lifting my 2003 a couple inches and putting 225s on it.

[@How2Helen]

@@talmagetrujillo637 Hello. My apologies, we do mostly "How to" repairs. I do not have special equipment to properly lift truck, and I don't want to give bad advice to others. But thank you for asking, that would have been a wild project. Thanks! - Rjeff H2H

[@talmagetrujillo637]

@@How2Helen I understand. Thanks anyway! I just replaced the water pump. Your video was very helpful. Took me about an hour and 20 minutes.

[@joechicago5687]

I have noticed that you haven't responded to any of the videos. I just want to say thank you in advance for the insightful videos. But do have a question

[@joechicago5687]

What antifreeze do you use because it's an American car but made by Suzuki and when you look it up Suzuki uses the Asian antifreeze and the American uses the Orange antifreeze on my car 2003 Chevy tracker my problem is sorry this is so long it leaks every time I stop driving it comes out of the overheat holes I replaced the radiator cap what else should I try

[@How2Helen]

@@joechicago5687 Hello! My apologies, I just received your comments right now. I will try to answer your questions. I use asian coolant (oat) even if it is technically American car, it is a Japanese design. That is my recommendation, but it is up to you. Are you overheating? How about if you are just idling? Get a scan tool and put it in live data, check the temperature. Normal running temperature is 180-215 deg F. If you are not overheating, but coolant is coming out of the expansion tank, maybe you just overfilled the expansion tank. Remember, when the car is running, it gets warm, so coolant expands, plus the pressure that the waterpump creates makes, will cause coolant to push out a little. That is why the expansion tank has a cold and warm level. Coolant will expand when hot, and retract when it cools down. I hope that helps -Rjeff H2H

[@How2Helen]

Hello. I just replied. Let me know if you are overheating on the gauge or not, and if you do buy a scanner and check the temp on live data function. It is a big difference if you are overheating, or just coolant gets pushed out of the expansion tank. Let me know so I can help. Thanks again! -Rjeff H2H

[@joechicago5687]

it doesn't overheat when I'm driving only after I stop the car does start to shoot antifreeze out the overflow hose. I'll take it to a auto parts store and see if there's any codes.

[@How2Helen]

@@joechicago5687 you actually need a scanner connected while driving, and set it to live data. That way, you can monitor the temperature in real time if it goes above 215deg F. Also, if you can, try removing the thermostat. Fill the car with coolant/water. From the radiator, see if the coolant/water is moving, like it is being circulated by the waterpump. If it is not moving, then you might have a bad waterpump. If the waterpump is not working properly, heat might be building up when you are driving, then when you stop, that is when coolant expands or “explodes” causing it to leak out of the hose. Also, make sure your drive belts are not slipping. If it slips, it might not turn the waterpump continuously, which causes the coolant not to circulate, resulting on the overheating issue. Try those and let me know. So we can troubleshoot furthers. Keep me posted-Rjeff H2H

[@davejurzynek9837]

Great vid!!! Thank you!

[@How2Helen]

We are glad we could help! Thank you for watching and Subscribing! - Helen

[@parkrichard4464]

Outstanding video.

[@How2Helen]

Thank you so much! - Rjeff H2H

[@gustavoramirez8373]

Muy buen video 👍

[@fynoda]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@How2Helen]

You are Welcome. Thanks for watching! - H2H

[@perron34]

muy buen video detallado, gracias

[@How2Helen]

Welcome! Thank you for watching-H2H

[@1Kevingtz3]

Thanks a lot for the video!

[@How2Helen]

Thank you for watching! -H2H

[@abrahamchavezkorsi9687]

thanky you for the video, from mexicali.

[@How2Helen]

We are happy to help! - H2h

[@dapperdingo]

Thank you for the video!

[@How2Helen]

You are welcome! Glad we could help-H2H

[@elmaestro5801]

Excellent, 1thing.. No need for gasket or sealant on the back of thermostat housing?

[@How2Helen]

Hello. The other side of the Thermostat housing goes to a rubber hose. You do not need to put gasket or sealant on that end, just make sure you tighten the clamp snug, but not too tight that it might crack the housing. Thanks for watching! - Rjeff

[@beanboy1107]

@How2Helen i have a question i got the same car and need to change my water pump i bought a new one and i got this O gasket i dint see in your video im confused where it goes

[@How2Helen]

Hello. Is it maybe the ring around the thermostat? Or the mounting point between the thermostat housing and the engine of the vehicle? Those are the only ones I can think of. Of you want, send me a pic of your set on Facebook so I can check. -Rjeff H2H

[@beanboy1107]

@@How2Helen its all good i found out it is the ring for the mounting point between the thermostat housing n engine but i have another question now about the torque you say 12 lb ft torque but how do you calculate this on the wrench as it goes from 10 to 20 you just eyeball it more or less?

[@How2Helen]

@@beanboy1107 Glad you found where it goes. My torque wrench actually can do 12ft-lb. If yours jump from 10 to 20, then I would recommend to do 10, then just give it a touch of “ump”. But not to much as you might break it. Be careful as these things can easily break. I wish you luck! 🙏 -Rjeff H2H

[@gustavoramirez8373]

Es más que una pregunta tengo un Chevrolet tracker 2000 se empieza a calentar solo cuando pongo los cambios, pero en parqueo puedo durar horas y no se calienta pero hecho andar y en 10 o 15 minutos empieza a calentar

[@How2Helen]

Hello. our apologies, we don't speak Spanish. But thank you for watching the video!-H2H

[@mrodriguez5259]

Explícate mejor y te orientare

[@mrodriguez5259]

Magnific

[@How2Helen]

We appreciate the compliment! Thank you for watching and Subscribing! - Rjeff H2H

[@PeterAcrat]

👍🙏☀️

[@louismakenzy9981]

Cute

[@stevenw2866]

Do you have a source for a oil pan plug I need for my son's 2004 Tracker ZR2?

[@How2Helen]

Hello. Try Ebay. You can buy either the OEM Dorman Drain Plug 090-075, or one of those universal drain plug M14*1.5 Aluminum Drain plug, Let us know which one you decide to go with and share your experience, so viewers may benefit from your shared information. Thanks for watching!

[@stevenw2866]

@@How2Helen salamat

[@joechicago5687]

😂 lol

[@rocketdat6995]

?