I have a 2001 Nissan Frontier the head gasket is shot[i think] checked thermostat and checked for clogs, flushed system, noticed bottom of radiator is cold but top is hot, is water pump shot?does not wiggle, or did i put thermostat in backwards? Steam poors out exhaust
Well, the most common failure on a water pump is that the seals go and then it begins to leak, and drips or pours down the side of the engine. As to the bottom of the radiator being cool, bear in mind that a large number of cars and trucks have a transmission cooler or oil cooler located at the bottom section of the radiator, and that would of course remain cooler than the cooling system as the oil or transmission fluid do not conduct heat as well, not do they tend to get quite so hot. I would guess you have not gotten the thermostat in backward, as if it were never to open, it would not allow the hot coolant from the engine into the radiator against the flow of the water pump. As to the head gasket, yes, steam from the exhaust is a fairly strong indicator that coolant is getting into the combustion chamber and being steamed off. Of course, that could also be a cracked block or cylinder head or a warped head that caused the gasket to fail, but the head gasket would be the first thing to examine.
2000 Nissan Altima Water Pump
2001 Nissan Altima Water Pump
I agree with bobweb, i would seriously check the thermo again, whats a .50 cent gasket gonna do to your wallet? there are tell-tell holes for your model truck pump, check those little holes to see if it's leaking, you said the pump doesn't move, grab the pully that the pump is operating on and give it a tug and make sure the bearings are not shot.-alex
