Hello every one, I just bought a 2002 Chevy 2500HD LS Duramax 4x4 extended cab pickup with 255K Miles... i am surprised how well the engine runs ! I remember back in the days when they came out every one was thinking that it would be a flop... well... i guess not.

Anyway, I just discoverd that there is a water leak in my truck it drips from the front of the engine. I am thinkings its the water pump.

What is the normal cost of the water pump replacement? and how much do I expect to pay for a water pump.

I work on my old cars all the time. Is that something I should be able to handle my self?

I am new to these engines... but loving it !

My engine is super solid and runs great !

The only reason you couldn't do it yourself is that you need a special tool to put on the ring gear through the starter hole to prevent the engine from turning over when you are removing the water pump.

What does starter has to do with the waterpump? sorry i am ignorant when it comes to these engines. Is the starter located close to the water pump?

You can do the pump youself with no issues. You can be creative and find a way to hold the flywheel. I slipped a pipe in one of the flywheel holes and locked the pipe in place against the motor. The starter is removed to accesss the flywheel and the flywheel is held to remove the balancer bolt (BIG piece of pipe). One of the water pump mounting bolts is behind the balancer. Yes, they screwed a 30 minute job into a 3 hour job by one bolt.

That balancer bolt is TIGHT! that is why everyone is letting you know how hard it is, if it were not for the balancer bolt, it would be a piece of cake.

Of you have the tool, it is still a piece of cake to do!

Found the problem... it was actually the Pipe that connects between the thermostat housing and the top of the water pump.

Go the pipe out it was actually just the O ring gone bad... new O rings... and I am back in business !

The way we found the leak was with a water leak pressure tester... works pretty good...

Good for you.... That balancer and sometimes the fan are not fun.

Be sure all air is purged from coolant system. Sometimes it won't purge itself.
No air in system means your upper radiator hose is hard at operating temp, and coolant level in expansion tank rises during heatup.
Most common reason for system not degasing itself is a bad expansion tank cap. If you have original cap, watch it. If your upper radiator hose sucks flat on cooldown, replace cap.
Here's a GM gas purging procedure if you need it.
http://www.gm-trucks.com/home/content/view/149/25/