Riviera Water Pump Question

[Brad97GS]

Ok guys, a big ol' pat on the back for anyone who can help me out here. :)

The water pump died on my '95 Buick Riviera the other day. I have all the bolts off the old pump except for one. It is the furthest back of any of the bolts (so if looking at it from the passenger side fender, it's on the left corner of the pump). Covering half the bolt is part of a giant bracket that holds the alternator, two tensioner pullies (supercharged engine - has two belts), and idler pulley (I think), and a few other misc things. Even if I could get a wrench on that bolt, I would not be able to remove it because this bracket is so close. So my question is, does the whole bracket have to move in order to get at this bolt, or is there some other way that I'm just not seeing? Wish I could post a picture, but I don't have a digital camera. Has anyone here ever done this in a Riviera or even another Series I 3800 Supercharged engine? The job wouldn't have been that bad if not for this one bolt...

Thanks for any help you can give. :)

[4kQuad]

Have you looked at the new one yet. My thought my be that instead of a bolt HOLE, there is a bolt SLOT. Once you loosen the bolt the slot will allow the pump to be removed. It's a long shot, but hay this is a car we're talking about here.

There may also be a chance that, that bolt is shorter than the other bolts.

Call a local junk yard, the yard guys pull stuff apart all day. You might catch someone in a good mood, and they will just tell you.
Also call the place you bought the new pump, they should have a book they can tell you from. Some times a good parts store guy can blow you away with all the triveal crap they know.

Other than that......walk away for the night and look at it again in the morning. You might see a new angle then.

[HeyDace]

Ya gotta remove the alt bracket assembly. Yeah, its a PITA but its the only way.

[Brad97GS]

Thanks for the responses guys! There is one more bolt I need to get off of the alternator bracket (I think...but hey, there may be more that I don't see). I can only get at it with a wrench, and apparently I'm not strong enough to break the bolt loose. Can't fit a pipe over the wrench either. But I'm not all that strong, heh. :) Maybe my brother or uncle could break it loose.


I hope this new water pump lasts for a looooong time!

[jordanGT]

try to hit the end of the wrench with a hammer or stab at it with another wrench (if you can in the tight space) after hitting it with some WD-40. The impact often helps break it loose. That always works for me, even on bolts I'd never dream of breaking loose on my own.

[4kQuad]

yea, tap it with a hammer or a rock. A rock can be heavyer than a hammer.

OK, place the wrenck in place, get a small piece of 2x4 ( or such ) put one end on the wrench ( you can even cutt a small grove it in to help hold it on to the wrench) then beat on the 2x4.

OHH....what happened to the gorilla gloves. They worked last time you were in a tight spot. Grab that puppy in a Quad-Kong hold and spin er loose.

I have even slipped a closed end over one side of the open ended wrench and used the closed end to pry agents it. If that don't make since. Put the round end (smaller size like 1/2 or 9/16 ) over one of the u shaped legs that make a open end wrench. Put the open end so you can use it like a leverage arm.


Hey do you have a swivel, they can make things happen some times, give you a little more angle to use other leverage on it. They also make curve handled wrenches to reach around things.

Good luck.

[Brad97GS]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions guys. I didn't get a chance to check it out today. My uncle tried yesterday and could not break it loose. I never thought about a curved wrench...hmmm....our latest thought is that it would be easiest to unbolt the power steering pump and move it aside, giving us easier access to that bolt, where we could fit a socket on there and either a breaker bar or a ratchet, extension, and big pipe to get some leverage.

Also, the round end of my wrench would not fit in the spot, because of the power steering pump. The round end of one of my uncle's wrenches did fit (thinner), but when he put a lot of power into it, the teeth of the wrench gave in and just moved without moving the bolt. What a pain!

BTW, I can't believe you remember the gorilla gloves! That was great...a moment of triumph for me. :) I never would have guessed they would have any practical purpose...until that fateful day when my friend's Saturn didn't want to give up its oil filter. For those of you who weren't here/don't remember, some halloween gorilla gloves that I have enabled me to loosen that filter, after everything else had failed. :)

Anyway, back to the Riv. I really hate driving other people's cars...and I love driving the Riviera anyway, so I really really want to get this done! If the water pump ever dies again, I am NOT fixing it myself! ;)