Did lotus ever build a different Water Pump?

[Exbury]

Well its looks like any chance of Lotus'ing this 'better' weather might be out. The pump is with lotus, info. I have to date is that;

N/A water pumps are the same as Turbo'd pumps.
Lotus have always used the same part number.
YES - my pump is definetly confirmed as different (by Lotus)
NO - at this point they have no idea why.

Replacement engine time?? Stick back in the old water pump? I could get the new engine rebuilt over the winter and upgrade it a little maybe!! It seems like maybe I really do have a unique pump installed!

J

[bobbrown]

Are the parts from the old pump interchangeable with a new one?
If the seal and bearings are the same then may be, pull off the drive pully press the shaft out of the bearings /housing then using the new parts reinstall in the old housing

Just a thought, with out seeing the two pumps I can not be sure it would work.

Bob

[GeoffSmith]

Forgot to post what I'd found at work last week (because my pc crashed). It may be a red herring but it may be worth asking on the Isuzuzone website asI can't find the difference between the two engines listed. There are two Bosch pumps listed on Rockauto: 96142 is listed for the 1989 Isuzu I-mark 4XE1 engine and 96065 is listed for the 4XE1W engine on most turbo and normas.

Good luck!

[RayD]

It seems like maybe I really do have a unique pump installed!

Unless there's something in Geoff's post about two different engines...

The strangest thing is having different hole centres in the block.

Presumably they haven’t been plugged and re-drilled?

Is it certain that a "gasket" that fits perfectly on the pump that came off would be 4mm out on the new one, and everyone else’s pump?

Or is it 4mm out because of the impellor diameter?

Are all the holes out, or just one?

You could do with checking both pumps on another engine.

Ray

[Exbury]

I am going to have a good look for the engine number tomorrow at the garage, this is very frustrating, but I guess there is the potential for a block change (I believe you can stick the 1.8 isuzu block under a 1.6 head).

The mounting holes are 4mm out and more than one and checked with a micrometer, the block does not seem to have been plugged and re-drilled and the pump must come from somewhere. Both the new pumps were test fitted to the block and both jammed up on the impellor and the holes did not line up, i.e. you get two bolts in but not the rest. The vanes of the impellor are widely different, more than 10mm difference in diameter.

Once I get teh engine number hopefully it will give more insight, although if it just says its a standard 1.6 block I think i will start to tear my hair out!

[Exbury]

Geoff,

Hey, you may be onto something. I had a look at the Cardone A1 pumps you suggested the two different ones are;

http://info.rockauto.com/Cardone/Detail ... 316-01.jpg
and
http://info.rockauto.com/Cardone/Detail ... 327-01.jpg

and the ***316.jpg one looks much closer to the water pump I have rather than the other which looks much more like teh lotus ones. Without one in the hand its a bit difficult to say but looks like it could be a distinct possibility!

Going to investigate more tonight! Fingers and er everything else crossed too!

[Exbury]

Think I will take the risk and get an I-Mark water pump sent here. It looks much more compatible, potentially I have had an engine change although not sure if it is of any benefit!

fingers crossed!

[Exbury]

Suspense over - I have an Isuzu I-Mark Block as part of my engine (dont know why). I ordered an I-Mark Water pump from America which fits perfectly. Unfortunately I checked the cambelt which is the same Part No. but didn't check the tensioner so need to modify or order a new tensioner.

Intereting, not sure what this means though apart from i have a hybrid engine and no idea why.

Lotus have stated that they did NOT ever use another water pump on S1 or S2 cars.

[bobbrown]

Glad to here you have got it sorted, may be it was a stray engine either Isuzu or Lotus had and it got fitted to your car, who knows.

Just had my water pump done due to a leak, which only occured when you took the cap off, when the car was running no leak.The old pump was shot as there was a lot of play in the shaft, at least the bearings did not colapse as that could have gotten very expensive.

Bob

[GeoffSmith]

Glad you got it sorted Jason. Where do I send the bill for my consultancy fee?

[Exbury]

Consultancy fee, do you mean

Thanks for all help and ideas, especially to Geoff for the possibility of the Isuzu I-Mark, have to say you beat the Lotus engineers on this one!! Sadly I am off to Colombia for 3 months at the beginning of December and will not get to drive the Elan till next year. Oh well, the joys of 20deg C weather over Dec-Feb. Its hardship but i will survive i think!

Beer or Coffee ........(no other possibilities mind!) can be celebrated on my return!

[Specky]

Glad to hear your sorted...

TTFN

[GeoffSmith]

Consultancy fee, do you mean

Yeah, thta's the one - I was going to buy a dictionary with it!

[RayD]

Good spotting Geoff.

Glad you have it sorted J.

I had sent an email to the pump manufacturer’s (hr@aisinauto.com) but was still waiting for a reply.

Ray

[Exbury]

The only thing now is the lower Cambelt tensioner pulley, again that is ever so slightly different. The lotus one does not use a groove in the body of the tensioner for the spring, the I-Mark engine that I have does. Although i do notice that there is an extra hole in the face of the body. The spring is held to the body of the pulley by a small groove. Therefore needing to drill a small groove in the body of the new one body (at engineering shop already) to match the old one in exactly the same place, will be quicker than ordering and postage so fingers crossed can ready by Wednesday or famous last words. Saying that, looking at the Rockauto website, the right and left pulleys sent are identical to the 1.6 I-Mark and the 1.6 Impulse RS so I am guessing maybe the Lotus spring is different or maybe a redesign.

by hook or by crook......
we will get there

[Enright]

I notice that Rock Auto list 7 different water pumps for the 91 Isuzu Impulse RS, but from the Wiki the one recommended for our Elans is the most expensive.
Has anyone tried any of the cheaper ones with any success, or is it REALLY necessary to spend up to twice as much?

[bobbrown]

I purchased 2 and fitted the CARDONE SELECT Part # 5573619 recently no problems to date: It may well be pays your money and takes your choice and as far as I can see they all should fit OK.
I went for a lower cost option as I intend to change it when the belt gets changed again, OK five years time but by then it will be $100 so I have one as a spare.

Bob