except when the water pump is seized to the block due to corrosion over the course of 19 years, likely including many years of neglected coolant. The pump itself is not "flat" against the block, it protrudes into the block with a very tight tolerance, which is necessary for the O-ring seal to work. The corrosion works itself into this narrow crevice over the years and is the reason many have had a not-so-pleasant-time replacing a stock water pump on these cars.

 

It is hit or miss if it is easy or hard. I replaced the one in my 97 Cougar because I had to replace the nipple to do the PI intake swap, and at less than 85,000 miles it was a bear. I ended up breaking off most of the ears and bolt bumps.

I thought it was a problem on my 00 Grand Marquis with 250,000 miles so I pulled it, and found it was fine, and just put it back in. It was my junk yard sourced Ford revised nPI intake leaking.

 

Ok, Bangy-ole-boy, by "found it was fine", you mean it spun without any variance of perpendicularity and no grinding resistance?
Other than the occasion of a wobbly shaft, I aint never understood why one was bad vs "ok".
What kind off visual inspection would prevail.
What about the liklihood of the WP being the source of my damnable & infernal squalling?
The minute amout of coolant, and the infrequency of it's appearing hasn't yet alarmed me enough to worry about the pump yet... But if it's so flaky to squall like that, it is not healthy.
Thanks
Rev. Toid

 

Mine wasn't weeping, the bearing felt good, the impellers were not eaten away, corroded, the press fit sides were not corroded and I didn't need to destructively remove it.

If things go well, it is a 20 minute job, that is why I just put mine back in there, I didn't buy another one I figured I could reseal it (I had an o-ring from my Cougar).

Of course I live in the high desert and routinely drive it at ambient temps above 100 degrees, sit at the border coming back from Mexico for 3~5 hours at 110 degrees, but I didn't swap it out, I will likely do it soon though, I keep thinking I will give up on the car, but still pretty solid.

 

Ahhh. Thanks.
I will know when I remove it then.

I drove thru your neck of the woods in the early '90s several times to and From Ft. Irwin. Arid and starkly beautiful. Not a "corrosive" environment.
I'm re-belting first and rechecking the tensioner and belt alignment.
If no joy, then I'm going in.

 

Have you verified that the noise does indeed resonate from the FEAD by removing the serpentine belt and starting the engine briefly? It's a quick sanity check that doesn't cost a thing.

 

It seems a new Tensioner arm and a new belt stopped the squeak.
Took her out and drove her hard today, not a speck or spittle from the weep hole.
She purrs like a ... Hmmm... No, that would be a Cougar metaphor.
She... (I can't think of a bird metaphor)
She doesn't squeak anymore.
thanks guys

 

She... (I can't think of a bird metaphor)

Strangely enough, Thunderbirds Roar, or make Thunder.

Thunder is especially more likely if you go over a 150 shot of Nitrous on a stock engine.