Pontiac Solstice GXP Water Pump Replacement

[@ironsales5669]

Great video, it makes a very convincing argument to take it into the dealer for this service.

[@RecordsRebuilds]

Thanks!

[@vargasjohnson540]

Thanks for filming this.

[@brucesabatoni3410]

Boy I am not looking forward to this lol. Thank you so much for the advice brother!

[@RecordsRebuilds]

You can do it Bruce. Just keep going and don’t quit until you get there! Mine is still working great after 3-4 high temp track weekends.

[@brucesabatoni3410]

@@RecordsRebuilds sweet!

[@fastfoxshark]

Video was a great help!!

[@RecordsRebuilds]

Thanks! Glad it helped!

[@newyorkrich]

Hi, thanks for the great video. One question, I removed the 2 large bolts holding the pump in place, as well as, the 3 bolts on the gear, but the pump will no come off. Are any of the other 5 bolts on the water pump holding it on the block?

[@RecordsRebuilds]

There are at least 4, maybe 5 bolts holding the water pump onto the block (not counting the front bolts on the pulley). Look at your new water pump as a guide. All the holes that go all the way through are bolts that need to come out.

[@ripleyt1]

how did you get the three bolts on the therm housing back in? very difficult

[@RecordsRebuilds]

I show that part in the video. I took a probe with a magnet on the end and used it to drop the bolt down to my waiting hand. It was still very tough.

[@aacar4095]

Someone may have said this, but if you take the turbo shield off and undo the downpipe top and bottom, remove the O2 sensor, and move it to the side (support the exhaust underneath), it gives you more room at least for the thermostat housing, etc. Trust me, whatever you can do to make more room is worth it...it takes like 10 minutes to undo the downpipe. Have a pick handy too to get off water hoses that are stuck on after years of being there.

[@RecordsRebuilds]

Thanks! Great idea.

[@zp944]

I have asked 3 mechanics if they can do this job for me. I have explicitly explained that this is chain driven, that there is NO room to move, and that it is NOT the same as a normal water pump job. Also, they will need that special tension tool to keep the chain tight. All 3 shops said no problem. ... After delivering the car, all 3 shops refused to do the job.

[@RecordsRebuilds]

That’s crazy, thanks for posting. I can see why it is the most difficult thing I have ever done to a car short of pulling an engine entirely. In some ways, it is more difficult than pulling an engine.

[@pinballinc1752]

Advice: take the turbo out along with the cat (you can leave this hanging). It takes about an extra hour for me. Well worth it. Air or electric ratchet is an absolute must. Keep young children away as the Solstice repair vocabulary is not suited for them.

[@RecordsRebuilds]

I have heard with the 2009 you flat out Have to take the turbo out because the oil lines are routed differently. I'll keep it in mind, although I don't plan to ever do it again if I can help it.

[@brucesabatoni3410]

Thanks! I was planning on doing my water pump when I swap turbos which I’m about to do and I was wondering if it would make a difference doing it at the same time. Thanks!

[@heberoliveira1075]

Thanks this vedio help me. Thanks

[@RecordsRebuilds]

Awesome, glad it helped!

[@christiansi6551]

i just did this job, all i gotta say is as annoying as it is just get the special tool, and take off as much shit as you can to create the most amount of room possible. make sure you loosen the driver side motor mount bolt, but completey take off the passenger side mount for more room to remove the downpipe and thermostat and jacking up the engine makes everything so much easier.

[@christiansi6551]

btw thanks for the video it helped me out too!

[@RecordsRebuilds]

Thanks man. I always wondered if it would have been better if I tried it that way.

[@bbb462cid]

I've wiped out a pushrod V8 on a Friday, removed and rebuilt the engine over the weekend, reinstalled it and driven to work on that Monday. And I have the M car manuals from GM. I chose to take my Sol GXP to a Buick dealer to replace the water pump. F that all day.

[@RecordsRebuilds]

Very well said, I’m inclined to agree with you.

[@ironsales5669]

After watching this video I was thinking the same thing. Great video, it makes a very convincing argument...

[@jr42a1]

Just bought a 2008 sky with 87K for 8K. It was fully garaged and pretty much a cream puff.No records on any timing chain/pump replacement. I considered/worked that into my purchase price as the car was approaching the 90K mark.I WOULD NEVER DESIRE TO ATTEMPT TO DO THIS ON MY CAR. This guy has great mechanical skills but HE IS CORRECT. Sure, you can do it but you are far better off letting a dealer do it. Just take the replacement cost into the cost of what you buy it or have used it for.And once its done, its over.. most likely at the forever point(90K more miles). I think the sweet spot is to buy a really nice one with about 70-90K for as low as you can, take it to a qualified shop and get it done quickly.But yeah, unless you have the time, tools,ect? Maybe even gamble on your own skills ? Umm no.

[@RecordsRebuilds]

Unfortunately, that’s pretty good advice. So far the repair is still holding strong.