Has anyone attempted this? I feel I have the skill to do this myself but any tips would be appreciated. If you have a DIY vid for the VQ35HR I certainly would appreciate it. I realize it's a timing chain driven pump and what it's going to take but any pointers would help.

Thanks in advance

 

Just download the G35 service manual and follow the step by step instructions.

 

Thank you very much!

 

What's the story behind this? Your water pump is shot?

 

10-4 I lifted her up and can see the drip from the weep hole under the block. Pretty sure the seal is leaking inside. I have to fill her up about a gallon every three days.

 

Same thing happened to my 95 Maxima back in the day. Coolant leaking from weep hole. I'm sure the water pump was fine but the seals weren't. Replaced the water pump and put in a new timing chain tensioner. Not fun but certainly doable.

 

This is super concerning! Props to OP to have the confidence to knock it out. Can I ask what mileage you're at? I got the impression that this motor w/the timing chain etc was pretty much maintenance free beyond regular oil/filer changes, plugs every 105k miles, and regular upkeep within the average lifespan of the vehicle. That's what the service manual indicates too. Gosh dangit.

 

116k and tell me about it... It was a little disheartening, especially after I watched a DIY on looks like a solid 2 day job. :/

 

Well 2 days later and I finally got to the damn thing LOL.....

 

Ok well getting her back together I have come to the conclusion that it's probably worth the 1400 bucks to take it in to a dealership....

 

Its not necessary to remove TC cover for water pump replacement.

TC has removable access covers for that very purpose.

Haven't checked service manual lately but all you needed to do was:

Drain Coolant.

Remove access plates on TC cover

Slightly rotate crankshaft clockwise to take slack out of chain

remove oil tensioner.

rotate crankshaft counter clockwise to take slack out of chain.

Remove water pump fasteners.

Use 8mm bolts to jack pump out.

Drain oil and remove lower oil pan (this can also be done before removing pump to prevent mixing coolant & oil )

Replace Pump O rings and reinstall in reverse order.

I have sucessfully performed water pump O ring replacement without removing TC covers

 

 

Just throwing this out there but are we sure the timing cover doesn't need to come off on our V36 sedans with the vq35hr? It appears the previous posts are referring to the prior gen vq35de's. I wouldn't think they'd be much different but who knows.

 

engine design is similar, so I'm sure that procedure is quite the same. Engine does contain same amount of covers in the front.

 

No water pump cover on VQ35HR engine. Only on VQ35DE