My 2003 Cavalier, 2.2L 4-cylinder ecotec (VIN with an 'F'), automatic is overheating. I've done a number of things to troubleshoot including replacing the water pump, but I still have the same issues. All indications are that there is no flow of coolant through the coolant system. Today, I opened the access port to the water pump sprocket and started the engine. To my surprise the water pump is not being turned, because I don't see the sprocket turning through the port, however the engine itself is runs fine (apart from eventually overheating). I felt the sprocket before I started the engine, and it felt securely mounted to the water pump with the chain going around the sprocket as it seems it should. This appears to be what the problem was all along -- that the old water pump was not being turned either.
My questions are, why is my water pump not being turned, what could cause this to happen (or not happen), and how can I fix it? I thought the water pump was driven by the timing chain, but yet the car runs fine -- in fact it seems to run better, since it has started to overheat. Wouldn't the car run more roughly or not at all if the timing chain were broken?
My questions are, why is my water pump not being turned, what could cause this to happen (or not happen), and how can I fix it? I thought the water pump was driven by the timing chain, but yet the car runs fine -- in fact it seems to run better, since it has started to overheat. Wouldn't the car run more roughly or not at all if the timing chain were broken?
Oct 1, 2011 at 4:37 PM

