bad water pump??

[EMB2580]

Hi my dad gave me his '90 mtx about a month ago. he told me that I likes to run hot in city driving but fine on the highway. Ive noticed it does run cooler on the highway, but I am not sure if it really is over heating like he said it did sometimes. I've noticed a burning rubber smell but it badly needs a new w/p - p/s belt as I can see, would that cause it to run hot? also heater is barely room temp. he said it would over heat when it gets to the "M" of normal. he said the worst thing to do is let it idle for a long time but my roomate let it idle for a good half hour the other night and it didn't run hot at all, also a constant whine or groan coming from the WP area, bad bearings? let me know thanks

 

[dpsutphin]

A water pump will usually leak before it makes a bunch of noise. Check and see if you are losing coolant. The noise is probably from either your belt tensioner, or alternator. If you smell burning rubber under the hood, chances are you do have a bad belt and/or tensioner. Pinpoint where the noise is coming from, and we can help you diagnose it better. If you need to, go to any auto parts store and get a mechanic's stethescope. It makes it easy to pin point noises. Just don't stick it on the moving belt...lol.

Your heater problem sounds like a sticking thermostat (which could also cause the intermittent overheating deal as well). If it has never been done, it's probably a good idea to replace it, and flush the whole system at the same time.

 

[EMB2580]

water pump

thanks for the advice. Several people have asked me the w/p is leaking, no it is NOT leaking from the weep hole or anywhere else. radiator fan works fine as well. yes I have added coolant to the overflow tank twice in the since i've had the SHO, radiator level has not dropped at all. I too was thinking that the groan might be the idler or tensioner pulley(s) any ideas?