Water pump and belt brands, GM 3.1 v6

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Going to replace the water pump and belt on my Buick Century, which auto parts store has the best gamble for Chinese pumps? I have Napa, Advance, and O'Reilly near me. Also have Kentucky motors[KOI?] , but never been there. Autozone is already a pass based on reviews
 
You may want to watch this video.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwilhoivvavXAhVS3mMKHeDLD-8QtwIIKzAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFzbU-xfiUlY&usg=AOvVaw1XCttivwvn9FRsybxJduGw
 
I want to get the Hitachi off Rockauto, which is the OE pump, but I need this fixed by this weekend and I can't order parts til Thursday.

 
I replaced the water pump in my 1999 Buick Century about 7 years ago using a NAPA Tru-Flow Water Pump (rebadged Gates) that I paid about $20.00 for with a lifetime warranty, and it has performed flawlessly. I also put the NAPA Tru-Flow Water Pump (rebadged Gates) water pumps on my 1999 Silverado and 2004 TrailBlazer about 2 years ago and have not had any problems with those either.

Good luck!
 
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Originally Posted By: Kool1
You may want to watch this video.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwilhoivvavXAhVS3mMKHeDLD-8QtwIIKzAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFzbU-xfiUlY&usg=AOvVaw1XCttivwvn9FRsybxJduGw



Yeah I guess that rules out O'Reilly.
 
The 3.1L is probably the easiest water pump in the world to replace, don't worry about too much, get whatever pump is most convenient.
Aftermarket parts these days are low quality across the board.

Cardone made good pumps in the past but AAP, Autozone, etc, dumped them for their junky Chinese house brand parts. I'm going on my third AAP water pump in past 4 years.
 
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I just now saw the Hitachi, that'd be good too.


I really don't know if I can wait for shipping on this item.

Does anyone know if you can do this job without draining the radiator?
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
I really don't know if I can wait for shipping on this item.

Does anyone know if you can do this job without draining the radiator?


What's wrong with draining the radiator ? It should be a plastic plug that takes a 3/4'' deep socket.
 
Well if you're like me, you try to rig up some kind of contraption to catch all the coolant. That coolant has gotten to be quite expensive. When I pull my plug, the coolant tries to run all over the inside of the front bumper and down on the splash shield. If all I had to do is drain the radiator without worrying about losing coolant, I wouldn't mind so much. I've gotten in the habit of pulling the splash shield before pulling the drain plug. That amounts to about 50 pushpin retainers that have to be removed.
 
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I'd go ACDelco and a Gates or DAYCO belt. From RockAuto.

Agree. Price and selection are unbeatable, provided the ship time is not a problem for you.
 
If you ordered that water pump from RA and used 2 day shipping, you should be fine for the weekend.
 
I put a duralast new pump on 30,000 miles ago, which is 15 months ago. Good so far! This was on a 3100 in a 2000 Malibu!
 
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