Hey rotorheads,
I picked up a bone stock (except a catback exhaust) 1993 VR R1 a week ago and it hasn't given me any issues yet until I started it this morning. As I was sitting there waiting for it to warm up, the car's belts started to erratically squeal and the interior warning lights started to flash with the pulsation. It's never done that since I've had it and the previous owner has never experienced it either.

I popped the hood and started her again, and I can visibly see the water pump pulley stop every 2 seconds or so. I immediately shut it down. So I'm left wondering if I need to lubricate something or do I need to replace the water pump entirely? I'm not sure where to start.

Car has 103k miles and about 30k miles on a rebuilt motor. Temperature outside is about 30 degrees if that matters.

Video shows me starting the car and the lights that flash. I'll have to run out and take a video of the engine bay. I just need to be pointed in the right direction.


Thanks guys!

 

It seems the water pump has possibly failed as you can see it here in the video.

 

Ray Crowe at Malloy Mazda says its definitely the bearings on the water pump pulley. Sending out today will have it tomorrow to confirm

 

I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself

 

I think Ray has it diagnosed correctly as seen in your second video. Not really helpful but at least you aren't talking just to yourself

 

Yay, i'm not alone!
He's sent a replacement which will be at my door tomorrow at a very cheap price. Great guy.
Only thing that sucks is the car is parked a few blocks from my house so I gotta do it on the street in the cold, but that's life.

I will post a follow up when I'm done.

 

Definitely replace the water pump. Not a hard thing to do.

 

Makes sure you replace the gasket with the pump. You can use some grey RTV on it as well for more protection.

 

Get a friend or two to help you push the damn thing home. These cars roll very easily

 

Not even needed....I'm around 175 soaking wet and I have NO problem pushing the FD around. I once limped it to a trans shop when the trans was going out (AT) and ended up pushing/walking the FD by myself for a good 3/4 mile or so. One hand on the steering wheel when needed and the other along with your shoulder against the inside of the A-pillar.

Obviously not a good idea if you are surrounded by traffic or are located on a very busy road.

Be safe.

 

So it wasn't the water pump after all. Replaced it, (with a new gasket of course) and still the same issue. I was hoping this was it, but I'm thinking the only thing that can make that type of resistance is the power steering pump. Unfortunately, it's too dark outside, and it's supposed to rain then snow all the way till thursday morning. I'm going to have a plan of attack and try running the car without the A/C and power steering and see if that's it. The air pump and alternator pulleys spun freely, so I don't think it's any of those.

Replacing the water pump was on my list of things to do this week anyways ironically. I'm on vacation this week and was planning to do lots of routine maintenance so hopefully I can solve this issue and move on.

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

I think is the Altenator, don't see why the dash lights will flash if it was the water or power steering pump, loosen up the power steering tensioner and see if still does it.

 

So I called Ray @ Malloy Mazda and explained to him that it wasn't the water pump and he suggested that I disconnect the air pump via the connector on top. He says that that would be the only logical reason why the belts are locking up if the water pump was new and the alternator pulley were spinning freely. I told him that the air pump pully spun as well, but he schooled me on how the air pumps work and that even though you can spin it with no belt and with no resistance, the air pump could lock up when the car was on and if it wasn't connected, it would then spin freely.

I ran out in the rain with this knowledge and disconnected the air pump. Low and behold, the car started up and idled as smooth as a baby's ***. Sweet.
Hopefully anyone else that comes across this thread in the future will be able to find this solution.

As for the air pump, I'm going to explore my options, but since my car is a 1993 model, it falls under the "Historic Vehicle" category in the state of Maryland which means NO EMISSIONS.

Cheers