My 1996 Monte Carlo is running hot but not overheating.. I keep having to put water in it... there is no hot air coming from the heater... and a really rusty liquid blew out of the overflow for the radiator.. my friend says the bearings are going bad in the water pump... but I there is more to it than just that..

I changed the water pump today... I have to put a new drive belt on tommorow then I will know more... I think the rusty stuff looks like stop leak. I was thinking it may have been in there for a while and I think she has put too much water in it. She said the water came from the overflow, but I saw water spraying out from around the pump yesterday so it could be a combo of both. Thank you for helping. I changed the water pump today... I have to put a new drive belt on tommorow then I will know more... I think the rusty stuff looks like stop leak. I was thinking it may have been in there for a while and I think she has put too much water in it. She said the water came from the overflow, but I saw water spraying out from around the pump yesterday so it could be a combo of both. Thank you for helping.

While you have it apart changing the water pump is the perfect time to change your hoses. If your car has the original hoses I would highly recommend it. Also now is the perfect time to change the thermostat. I would recommend using and OEM thermostat from the dealer. It might cost a couple of extra bucks but I've had issues with aftermarket ones. Also if you suspect stop leak in the sytem I would take a garden hose and try flushing as much out as possible. When you have the thermostat out and hoses off put the hose where the thermostat goes and let the water flow. Let it run for a minute or two until the water looks nice and clean. Then you can flush it back the oppossite way also. Then run water through your radiator to flush it out also. When you get your car all put back together and full of coolant you need to be aware that your car may have a bleeder on it to allow air to escape from the cooling system. It is very important that you bleed the system. If you don't you will get air pockets and the engine will overheat. If you buy your thermostat from a Chevy dealer they should be able to tell you if your cars has a bleeder and how to do it. While you have it apart changing the water pump is the perfect time to change your hoses. If your car has the original hoses I would highly recommend it. Also now is the perfect time to change the thermostat. I would recommend using and OEM thermostat from the dealer. It might cost a couple of extra bucks but I've had issues with aftermarket ones. Also if you suspect stop leak in the sytem I would take a garden hose and try flushing as much out as possible. When you have the thermostat out and hoses off put the hose where the thermostat goes and let the water flow. Let it run for a minute or two until the water looks nice and clean. Then you can flush it back the oppossite way also. Then run water through your radiator to flush it out also. When you get your car all put back together and full of coolant you need to be aware that your car may have a bleeder on it to allow air to escape from the cooling system. It is very important that you bleed the system. If you don't you will get air pockets and the engine will overheat. If you buy your thermostat from a Chevy dealer they should be able to tell you if your cars has a bleeder and how to do it.