Engine noise/rattle diagnosed; water pump: FIXED:)

Another thing for you guys to maybe follow up on. And to share that way people know what happens when it locks up on you..
Here's what happened..
Was on highway doing about 65-70mph when all of a sudden it started bogging down like it was losing power. It was not overheating. So I immediately pulled off the side of the road. Let it run for like 5 seconds after I got it in park and shut it off real quick as it was barely running. Got out and it was gushing out coolant all over the ground. I shouldve taken a pic, but it was coming out from behind the clutch fan pulley bracket just below the timing cover. Then got pulled home of course...

Now I assume the bearing seized and locked up from how it was running since the timing belt runs that pulley so it was probably slipping.. Or broke the belt. But what I dont understand is why it gushed out all the coolant. possibly broke the water pump housing?? I'm hoping that it didnt break anything else in there...

Is there anything I should look out for when I pull it apart? Like for other damage? Or am I over-thinking this and thats what the water pump normally does? I thought it just barely leaked out not gushed...

 

I wish I would have seen this when you posted it... I could have told you water pump right off the bat. I just replsced my water pump as well. Driving down highway and started clunking under hood. Pulled over and noticed the fan was wobbling and hitting one of the pulleys. Hence the clunk sound, I thought it was fan clutch too but my mechanic look at it and before he opened hood he knew what it was.. mine as well wasnt leaking and he couldn't believe it didnt blow up on the highway. It was so incredibly sluggish! !! Thats your engine trying to seize up..

 

It broke your clutch fan bracket??
Like I said it wasn't overheating. Or clunking when it seized up. I think the water pump just seized and wasn't running right because the belt either was slipping or broke when it did. Meaning yeah the engine was trying to turn but couldn't because the belt was locking up too. Idk. I'll find out when I tear it down.. I'll take some pics too of the aftermath. I'm just worried about it maybe breaking something else when it did lock up. All the new parts should remedy it. as long as nothing else was affected.

 

Ok an update for anyone who ventures into this thread..

Been discussing this in another thread but figured I'd update this one.

So it did turn out to be the water pump. I got the whole kit installed. Minus the crank and cam seals. I skipped those because that's another job I've never done before and probly at least a days worth of more work. Now that I've done this it'll take me maybe a quarter of the time it took me to do it this time... Had some trouble with the crank bolt and pulley. Impact wouldn't get the bolt to pop loose. I finally got it after almost popping a hernia. Ha. Then had to use a puller on the pulley. Anyways got everything installed, filled er up with coolant and fired er up. Runs better than she ever has in the 3 years I've owned her. Super quiet. Can't believe how quiet it is now. All that noise from just the water pump. Thought for sure there was other issues with my engines sound/performance. Sounds like brand new actually.. Also think the timing was a bit off beforehand. Much better performance. Smooth idle. More response. She's running pretty hot though at about 204-210*. But word is that I installed the thermostat with the jiggle valve up when it's supposed to be down. But the Haynes says up. Apparently that's for the 3rz and some other model. 5vz is supposed to be down and the book didn't mention that. Oh well. So I'll try that out tomorrow and see what happens with temps. Fingers crossed. And no it's not the radiator itself. That was replaced like 6 months or so ago. I supposed there could be an issue elsewhere. But I'll try the thermostat first and go from there.

Here's a shot of the timing belt upon first inspection after removing the cover. Just ate it up. And a few shots of the timing alignment. Had a hard time figuring out what to do about lining the cams up, but it was pretty simple after I did it. Just thought there was some special procedure to it but it was easy as pie. Got the belt all lined up, but like others said after rotating the crank a couple revs it didn't line up again, but the timing stayed. I'll have to take a shot of the old water pump too. It got so bad the pump 'fan' inside was wobbling around and actually scraped some metal off of the housing!

 

I see that top left pulley has 2 alignement marks on it .... How did you know which mark to use ?
What is the top left pulley ?

Glad you worked it all out , tackled this job yourself !

What I don't understand is why you waited so long ?

I get right on any noise or vibration etc. ASAP... Otherwise you end up with bigger problems and bills .... It's like pay now or pay more later.... Best advice I ever recieved was "Overdo Maintenance Often"
Good write up .... I learnt something. : )

 

Yeah Idk why there's another mark on that one. But the real mark has an etch int he pulley as well as being labeled on the inside with an R and an arrow. Plus it was the one that was closest to the top shroud mark, otherwise I assume it wouldn't run if it was way off.

I waited because for one I'm not very mechanically inclined when it comes to big jobs. Or diagnosing them. I'm good with a wrench once I know what the problem is though. Plus I couldn't really afford it for a while. Only a bit for the pump, but figured I'd wait and get the whole kit. Plus I got a lot of other shit going on on top of working a lot. I usually have my older brother who is self taught but an awesome mechanic help me but he works more than me. He works like 70+ hrs a week and never has time to help me. He did take 30 minutes to help me, after he got home after being gone for 17 hours, with the crank pulley. Anyways.. yeah I'm learning albeit slowly...

 

Good to see you got it fixed and back on the road. With that kit you threw at it, you should be good for another 50K+ miles. Saved big bux doing it yourself, and kudos to your brother for helping too.