My water pump has bad bearings, it makes a rattling sound at idle and wobbles quite a bit when I wiggle the pulley and fan. I can see it wobbling at idle too. At idle, the car will be smooth for about two seconds, then an annoying shudder and it does this over and over. At higher RPM you can't quite feel it because it's sped up. At lower than normal idle it isn't even noticable. I'm hoping it's not a bad bearing inside the engine. The engine itself idles fine, I just get this vibration that shakes the engine and car.

What I want to know is, could the water pump being worn cause this or is it something more serious? The fan clutch may be bad as well from what I've seen. Thanks for any help.

I have seen this due to a over tighten belt. I don't use a clutch fan so I can't reply on that. Hope this helps

Try the new pump, you need to change it anyway. I waited once and payed a price. The bearing will eventually freeze up and the shaft will break and send the fan through the radiator. It sounds like the first hurdle to get over.
Dave

crank it up with the belts off and see if that solves the problem.

Take the fan off and then wiggle the water pump shaft. if it wiggles its junk. Replace it. If its the fan/clutch that wiggles then its junk too. If thats the case replace the fan clutch.

The fan itself is unlikely to be the problem.

crank it up with the belts off and see if that solves the problem.


And what, exactly, is that going to prove? Take all the belts off and start the engine and none of the things that he has observed as potential problems will be in motion. Bad advice. Think this one thru again please. :)

What it will prove is if he is on the right track with his thoughts of the pump or fan causing the vibration. If it still has the vibration with the belts off then he can rule out the pump and or fan as the cause and start looking elsewhere for the cause.