94 Voyager - the rest of the story

I took the heater core hose that comes from the water pump (thru the
metal pipe under exhaust manifold) loose at the firewall. There was no
water coming from the pump. I also took loose the small hose at the
thermostat that comes from the water pump as it was easiest to get
to. I was able to blow back from the heater end and have water come
out at the thermostat end of the hose. The top radiator hose gets warm
and the gauge runs mid scale when the engine is warm. Just drove it
180 miles yesterday no overheating problems. Why can I blow back thru
the pump but no water will flow to the heater?

BTW, I did have to have head gaskets replaced recently but heater
problem was the same before and after. But the shop said there is no
such thing as a weak water pump, it either works or it doesn't.

 

<
m>,

This was with the engine running?

 

I don't know how the impeller is constructed on the Voyager water pump,
but this would not be the first vehicle in which a plastic impeller
would have come loose from the shaft, or completely exploded into
pieces. That would leave things open for flow, but nothing to pump the
water. Sound familiar?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

Yes. Maybe the impeller is loose or some blades are missing but there
is enough flow for water to run through the radiator.

jh