Yeh the water pump idea has been brought up before. It was replaced when the engine got swapped in but I'm not sure whether it was genuine or not. But changing the water pump = taking the engine out = $600 already  . Do what you gotta do I guess
 
Engine was from SSS Automotive, it was quite a clean engine all three mech's agreed. Done under 100,000 (claimed 70,000). 2nd Mech reckons the head got re-coed sometime. Whether it was due to past overheating in Japland or not is anyone's guess. Warranty was 1 month after they sent the ECU. It was finished months before the engine actually got fitted LOL
 
Mann...getting the engine out again I may as well pull the brakes and put in redtop extractors, LSD...
 
 

Haha awesome just found this article (cheap water pump test)
http://autospeed.com/cms/.../A_110478/article.html

Engine doesn't need to come out for a water pump change does it? A timing belt can be done with the engine in.
 
Edit: Can you find out exactly what type of water pump was installed?

i had a similar issue which ended up being the Metal Head gasket not sealing propeely onj the head (wasnt machined properly)
anyway the car would drive properly for more than 40 mins or so and then it would start misfiring so i would pull over and find that there coolant spewing out the overflow bottle and onto the igniter causing misfiring
if the car wouldnt misfire i wouldnt have known the coolant was being lost and would have kept driving, temp. gauge was steady all the way
 
im not saying this is youre issue but
 
i would take some spare water or coolant and go for a long drive with a mate, freeway driving preferably and keep checking every 20 or so mins if its overheating or loosing coolant out the overflow.
 
the problem with mine was a very small hairline crack on the headgasket so it would only show up after driving for a while..
 
i would also find out wether a genuine pump was used.
 
im more than happy to give you hand if needed with the bleeding etc..
im free mondays and weekends
cheers

Mrskylighter

Engine doesn't need to come out for a water pump change does it? A timing belt can be done with the engine in.

Correct.

Yeh I asked Ian about changing the pump whilst engine in the car. He gave me a stern look LOL. Might be doable but imagine the all the years taken from you due to all the frustration lmao. Start seeing grey hairs in the mirror ...Dunno about the AW11 but SW20 engine bay is pretty damn tight. My timing belt cover is literally scrapping against the strut tower!
 
I asked the guy who fitted my engine about the water pump a while back he says he replaced with a new one but that's about it. I'll give him another buzz to find out as much as I can.
 
Thanks purple I should be capable with doing the system myself but if ur free I'll let you know when if I need help. More the merrier :D and you can stop me from pulling hairs (tho I might pull yours instead haha)
Honestly the hardest or most frustrating bit isn't the cooling system but the underbody panels, taking them out, putting them back in. My hyd jack sucks so I can only get the stands to one pin-hole raised and I don't have a creeper so I'm twisting like a worm under the car, in pain.
 
Hmm this is interesting. Race application too.
http://liquidintelligence...monials/stephen-anslow

lol only if you live near me ... i would have lend you my creeper :)

If only :')
Also saw you bought a Gen 3 congrats on the buy and you're getting a good shop to do it  = no dramas like this lol

Mini update
I spoke to the mech who swapped my engine he's adamant that the water pump is correct and I believe him as he sounded quite honest (even if he made past mistake). The brand of the water pump is Repco, and he's never had issues in the past.
 
I then spoke to another mech who reckons that my car is missing some sort of bypass hose which would be the reason the coolant doesn’t reach the radiator. Makes sense. If this is the case my initial assumption is correct >:D and I’m the unofficial MR2 water system pro (not really)
 
Booked in for a coolant pressure test (called it a decay test?) anyways to check head gasket integrity.
 
I’m also in for a dyno run this Sat so wish me luck the car doesn’t overheat on the rollers lol

My money is on that Repco water pump not working correctly.
 
Be careful on the dyno man!