My sisters car has a coolant leak and without looking at it right now, I'm thinking water pump due to the fact she says there's also a whining noise.

How tough is it to replace on a V6 '98 Malibu?
I did some Googling and found this.....
"You will need 8mm and 10mm sockets, and wrenches, 1/4 inch rachet and a good size pry tool like a screwdriver. I changed mine without removing the belt. The pump is behind the larger pully on the top front of the 3.1. It is smaller than the pully so you won't see it until you remove the pully. It's not difficult, just watch which way the pump is setting before removing it and put the new one in the same way you can scribe a mark to check alignment before removeal."

I know it's a major pain on the 4cyl. Malibus.
Thanks

Joe you are more likely looking at replacing a intake gasket on the little v6. It's kinda the glass jaw on them. It could be a water pump but they don't go as often as the intake gasket. It's an ugly job on top of that...

Yeah, I saw that too..... head gaskets also. :rolleyes:
I hate to tell her that... she'll collapse.

Turns out the thin paper gasket behind the pump was non-existant!
I put a new pump on anyway. Hell.... wasn't my money.
;)

My Daughter had a 98 Malibu with the 4cyl and they wanted $700 to change the water pump on it. She traded it in on a new Equinox.

That's why she has me!
A 1.5 hour job cost her $5 - the core exchange.
:thumbsup:

I've read where the 4cyl. water pump on those is a super pain in the rear to change.