300E Water Pump How Much Time?
 

Hi,, first let me say that i know i am dumb for not checking the water pump yesterday before putting the head gasket on,,,,,,, However my water pump needs replacing... How much time and i looking at to do this??

Dealer techs are allotted 4.5 to 5 hrs to perform this operation, I believe.

i wonder what parts of the engine need to come off to get at this?

i wonder what parts of the engine need to come off to get at this?

AllData shows 4.3 warranty and 5.9 standard labor for the '92 300TE with M103 engine. My tech, who I trust, told me it took him 8 hours the first time. It's buried in there. You should seriously consider the belt tensioner and definitely replace the tensioner shock while in there.

It is a challenging job unless you have the special FLXM13 SnapOn flexible extension. This allows you to get to the bolts without field stripping the power steering pump, belt tensioner and some other things.

Without the special extension, you can get it done, but it will usually require more curse words than are found in the vocabulary of most techs. It will require you to make up a few new ones.

Good luck,

You need to remove the power steering pump and move it to the side. The serp belt needs to come off, as well as the tensioner, to get to the lower front bolt. The top rear bolt can be done with a 3/8" socket, u-joint, extension and breaker bar. I tried a 1/4" arrangement but the u-joint broke. (SEARS).

I removed the radiator but I couldn't get the fan clutch off so I removed the plastic blades.

It's a PITA but I was successful.

BTW, use some grease to keep the O-ring in the grove.

wbain gives a good description of what needs to come out of the way if you don't have the FLXM13. This tool is about $45 from the Snap On man.

Have a great day,

Thanks Larry.

The top bolt was really tight on mine probably because the water pump was the original one. The 3/8" tools must contort through the intake manifold.

I did a search on ( "water pump" M103 ) and got a lot of good info, besides the repair CD info.

It took me a week or so because it was cold out and I didn't have to drive the car. Now, I'm driving the 300SE bacause my Volvo 960 needs tires and an alignment after I overhauled the front suspension.

Now I think I have to overhaul the 300SE's front suspension. More fun!

The FLXM13 has a 1/4" shaft so it will fit into place. Also, because of the thin shaft it twists alot and feels like it is going to break. This twisting action makes the shaft act as a torsion bar, storing energy. Once the bolt starts to move a little bit, the stored energy keeps it moving and breaks it loose when a thicker extension would not.

It sounds weird, but it works.

Have a great day,

Took me six hours on the dot with no special tools. Probably faster next time unless it's so many years from now I forget how. Moving the PS pump is no big deal, since the tensioner has to come off anyway (mine was shot).

I'd plan on a new tensioner -- unless replaced recently, it's toast.

Peter

I had the water pump replaced about 3 weeks ago (1989, 260E)
I got to my mechanic's place at exactly 8:00AM, did the paperwork, replaced the pump, had a 15/20 minute break, prepare invoice etc. etc.
I was out of the place at 11:30AM sharp. Total: About 3 hours of work.
jackD