[Del]

Discovered today that the Milano water pump bearing is shot, the shaft wobbling and losing coolant. No previous obvious signs, except just lately noticed some coolant starting to appear in the garage floor tray. Hmm, I said, wonder where that is coming from. Watched the engine run and saw that the water pump pulley wobbled. Oops. Made a thumping noise as well. Grabbed hold of the pulley with engine off. Yup, can move it back and forth. Must have just happened, as there was no noise or leakage recently. Nuts.

This is the 2nd pump on this car. The first one leaked when we bought the car new in 89. Changed on warranty. This one has lasted 100k miles. Foolishly thought it would be better than that. Parked until I decide what to do. I really don't feel like doing it myself, having to fiddle with the timing belt, don't have the tools to redo the timing belt tension. Have never had to mess with that before. This car's drivetrain has been flawless. Just normal maintenance.

 

[pangolin]

So are you fishing for help? I'm in Everett.

 

[kredden]

Sold all my v6 tools or I'd give you some help!

 

[Del]

Not yet. Have to see how things go. Thanks for the offer. We live in Des Moines near SeaTac Airport.

I've got a shop who can do it, if he can fit me in. That is the big question as to when he could get to it. I think he is short of mechanics right now, as many others are. Will just have to wait until he gets back to me.

The more I check the pump, the less I want to drive it anywhere. Might have to have it flatbedded to his shop. Depends on what he says. Will buy a pump if he doesn't have one in stock. He might. He does lust for our Milano, wants to buy it on the spot. He is an expert in them. My wife says, fat chance, but I'll keep it in mind, lol.

 

[pangolin]

If the shop is not far from you, it's probably okay to drive. If you have time and extra battery, you can remove waterpump belt and drive to shop. I would stop the car and rest when the temp gauge moves past the halfway point.

 

[alfettaparts2]

100k miles on a water pump. That's some record to be proud of.
You can change the w/p no problem Del. Just do it a little at a time. Unless your replacing seals you don't need any special tools. You can substitute the de-tensioner pin with a screwdriver.
Plenty of people here would be happy to help you out.

 

[Alfisto Steve]

Del is the Milano a 2.5L or 3.0L engine and what kind of timing belt tensioner does it have now? Doesn't really matter on water pump or belt but on tensioner it might if a leaking detensioner type.

 

[Del]

The car is an ordinary 2.5 liter Gold 89 Milano. The drivetrain is completely stock, and so I assume that it is the OEM tensioner. Don't remember if it had been changed when the car was in for regular servicing. Don't think so.

Lol, I've worked on cars ever since I started driving back in 1960, beginning with British cars of course. These days, it is difficult to get up the interest to do even relatively simple jobs like this. Mostly I always worry about getting the V6 timing belt procedure done correctly, this being an interference engine. Have to admit, that is something I've always avoided with all my Alfas. Having a really great mechanic the entire time allowed that. I've rebuilt many a suspension, brake systems, 4 banger head gaskets, and electrical fixes and changes in many Minis and Alfas, but I always avoided the V6 timing belt stuff. My fault for not being very brave like I used to be years ago. Plus, cold days, sore shoulder yet, If it was warmer out I might try it.

Luckily, have another DD Alfa, and I just might have to drive the Chevy SS some, lol.

I do find a tensioner adjuster tool for sale:

www.ebay.com/itm/253995316848?fits=Model%3AMilano%7CMake%3AAlfa+Romeo&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3b234cf670:g:aT0AAOSwxO9b97XU&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACsPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSg3Ye8yTWgOW7pmE1t838djVRdNgO%252FyA94ff4jJLVYh%252Fj1im9IO%252FuDkDkQLW5Yg024muB0HrlDo2FBZsgu8bNXZ5maOim%252FvA%252FUx9f%252BhJZXoK4VDIdcsLo6sSpUqYq0g3moaZyAJQN9wymbpxuIhvVWzCESL%252BPzp5Cv%252BiIY1rdIMfwSSyVPBZj5dd9AeKpJkcDulpt4sfUp5c9iZaflJa2IjXtdIyV%252FApzM4DYaVimMxSWzln5Tcdif3uqvXIvjmKi8oJzW3USC0nBX9fSHVGodr1gN2t6T0qL9taCiK2Slwage4opOx0vMlbBwyPdSBTuDQn9Zgsaq1beDsubzKZkK6xJfJQX3FcCQEeg95nVqV3%252BfClElvgDvuJZHkjlaTnK0ygCSreTnVp4kBb%252BYREj3fM%252FP0AAh4vtjCCxiAXEnPyj5nzIs6IutmkYba%252ByJ3kLgWSgy8QSMYHnetaiBGcMNjrmnRC78wtlF1a11DrVyVASmgmFbRtk7bFCeH9PC0zpN%252BjaP5yrtDp9XWzBcML47owYCUWAws8jiWNt0qYF7M0QTtVxP2SKJrXbTMnd94fm9X9nq1BX1Uwps646dqxQtSK%252B2R%252Bte3fpLtBP2V%252FSGghvCQC90ZD5yk1xCcyy%252Fh1xotHgUwnTtB9ssIaxyybAJ%252BrCyk%252Fk4T%252Ftd2a8hAUAcVMjuSA1o3P8wI65OBkwOumbl6N1L3wGaA4xlAueJPOvvAvKgf2%252F8zOxraR%252FAiblTiLG9aIjPRbuMta7%252Fj%252FcH6EDMEabTR38Dp6iOzNbNXKToySrDIDi3InLObcQ9B9xoZ6CHm4udiTzq3dBzzFigl4ghp6OV8Rk5q87lmxakKo%252FWePW6qPHL4CBy2Sn4weWSpc%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMgqCoxctf

Is this correct for the 2.5 liter? The application chart does say "Verde" but don't know if that is the same for the 2.5.

 

[kredden]

Don't know if that would fit or not, here is what they normally look like (the one on top). Also here is a 3rd party one that would also work (Alfa Romeo V6 (Busso) 24v & 12v and Twinspark (Exhaust) Cam Pulley Tool | Totally Alfa).

 

[pangolin]

I have cam turning tool and tensioner lockout pin.

 

[Del]

Ok. Thanks. Appreciate the offer. Let me find out what the shop says about being able to do the job. Otherwise, maybe we can talk.

 

[pangolin]

PM when ready.

 

[racingswim2006]

OPTION A
1.) Take car to mechanic to fix, pick one of like 5 Alfa specialists in your area - lucky you (Chris?).
2.) Drink beer/post 25 times on the BB/do burnout in SS/wait for mechanic to call.
3.) Pay mechanic.
4.) Enjoy car.

OPTION B
1.) Buy parts.
2.) Fix car/ Drink beer. Repeat until finished.
3.) Enjoy car.

The timing belt and water pump on the V6 (and especially in the Milano configuration) is an easy, straightforward job and requires no special tools whatsoever. If you have the pump, belt, tensioner, gaskets in hand you can do it in an afternoon. If you want to tidy things up add time according to your level of OCD.

 

[Del]

Yup.

I'm hoping for option 1, with Chris. He's seen the car before, and if I can keep him from pounding on us about selling him the car, lol, it will be done. I trust his work. He did the work rebuilding the suspension, brakes, and steering on my 91S last year. Sometimes it does take a while for him to get back. Sometimes it is best just to stop by the shop. I may do that.

I don't know of five Alfa specialists in my area. I know people who could probably do the work, but if I hire out, I want them to be professional. Carlo, my expert passed away because of covid I think, alas, and then there is Chris. I haven't heard much about Group 2, but I've been advised...

Otherwise, I will gird my loins and do option 2. I know I can do it, it's just deciding to go ahead, and learn by trial and error. I'm just one of those types that takes a while to get up the head of steam to do a task. Generally the task ends up being not bad at all. The first time is always hard the first time around for just about everything.

 

[Dell]

If you do opt for option B, I’ll volunteer as mechanical bull - you just get to watch

I need to come up for air anyway. My 8.32 swap is turning out to be very involved

 

[Del]

Thank you for the offer. I'll keep you in mind. PM me with more information if you'd like.

 

[sportiva]

Find top dead centre at crank and with the distributor @ #1, mark the rear of the camshaft pulleys and the head, as long as all the reference marks are in sync when the belt goes back on all will be good. You have the Holden to drive so it doesn't matter if you take your time to do the job. Be carefull when you remove the belt not to move the dist drive pully as this will put the igniton timing out. post #4 in this thread shows how I marked the camshafts

R & R water pump, T belt and tensioner

Well, while testing the alternator on my son's GTV 6, I noticed some antifreeze drops and tracing them down, I found the water pump pulley has a slight wobble and the seal's weeping. So now we got a water pump/timing belt/tensioner job in our near future. I had heard a bit of a whine lately...

www.alfabb.com

 

[Milanoguy]

This is the 2nd pump on this car. The first one leaked when we bought the car new in 89. Changed on warranty. This one has lasted 100k miles. Foolishly thought it would be better than that. Parked until I decide what to do. I really don't feel like doing it myself, having to fiddle with the timing belt, don't have the tools to redo the timing belt tension. Have never had to mess with that before. This car's drivetrain has been flawless. Just normal maintenance.

So this pump has been on the car since 1989/1990 when it was replaced under warranty ? Typical Alfa, the water pump lies in wait, providing good service decade after decade, lulling you into complacency and then, a mere 32 years after it was installed, it suddenly fails, leaving you in the lurch. Sneaky things those water pumps.

When was the last time the timing belt was replaced?

Envious in Houston

 

[Del]

Belt replaced about 13k miles ago, July 2009. Belt still looks good, but will get changed. Car now has ~105k miles on it.