Hello everyone, my 2003 350z started to leak coolant out of the water pump weep hole. So I ordered a new pump, thermostat, and chain tensioner to replace them all. The car would make the traditional timing chain rattle on cold start noise so I figured maybe the tensioner was causing the rattle. But to my surprise when I went to remove the water pump mounting bolts two of them were backing out (bottom left almost a whole half-inch)!! Glad I got in there to do this job but I am wondering if the loose water pump mounting bolts could make it seep past the o-rings and the pump seals are still okay.

The car only has 85k miles on it but it is a built and vortech supercharged motor. Does anyone know how those bolts could get loose like that other than not being torqued enough, maybe the timing chain rattle helped? Assuming it's the oem pump in there.

 

Why not loctite those bolts in place with some medium blue? After that you can check for more leakage in the area.

 

^^^^ Bingo. This!
10 years on here, never heard of a water pump failing under 100K. Gl!

 

Sounds like a plan, thinking I should change the chain tensioner out at least to see if it fixes my start-up rattle. I will update with the results.

 

Loctite or Teflon thread sealer, either will work.
But yes, tensioner while you’re in there.