Need some advice. My Monte running great 2 days ago n yesterday a raspy grinding noise coming from the engine. The powersteering pump is full and was replaced 3 yrs ago. The water pump is 17 yrs old. Can a bearing go in the water pump and it still work? The fluid in the radiator is 4 in low. I am thinking it is a bearing, either the water pump or the power steering. Seems like the steering working well...please advise....thx

 

Yes a bearing can go in the water pump and still work, usually leaks out weep hole behind the pulley. Can take the belt off and should be able to check if it's loose by trying to wiggle the fan and check for play. Can pressure the cooling system up and look for leak, a parts store should rent/loan tool.

 

jeff is 100% correct, I would think it would be pouring coolant out of the weep hole though.
Wiggle the fan and see if any slop at the pump. Id be careful if indeed it is the w/p and not run the engine anymore that I had to. Ive seen bearings go out and throw the fan through the radiator or up in the hood etc.

 

Hmmm could be water pump bearing 17yrs is long timr,but usually makes a rattling type noise in my experience with them going bad.

 

I am going to replace the pump. Boy the sound of grinding is not a sound one wants to ever hear...you can imagine. Check this out....I found a high performance pump:
GMB High Performance Water Pumps 130-1250HP $91.87 at Summit racing, the same one at AutoPartsWarehouse for $225 . Gmb has a lifetime limited warranty. Most others 30 days FYI. Thanks for the feedback guys....Ed

 

Might also check the fan, if it's a clutch fan that oil could have leaked out while sitting.

 

So it is
not that. And it is a flex fan...very dependable.

 

Can take belt of ps pump and check for play in that also, with belts removed you should be able too figure out which bearing is making noise.