Does timing belt gasket have anything to do with the coolant

Water pump is Timing belt driven. It is below the Camshaft sprocket, in the timing case. If you want to repair/replace it here are the instructions.
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COMPONENTS

REMOVAL

1. Using the drain plug, drain the coolant.
2. Remove the drive belt and the engine coolant pump pulley.
3. Remove the timing belt cover, the auto tensioner and idler pulley.
4. Remove the water outlet fitting, the thermostat case and the water pump fitting.
5. Remove the engine coolant pump mounting bolts.

1. Remove the engine coolant pump assembly from the cylinder block.

INSPECTION

1. Check the engine coolant Water pump for cracks, damage or wear, and replace the pump assembly if necessary.
2. Check the bearing for damage, abnormal noise and sluggish rotation and replace the pump assembly if necessary.
3. Check the seal it for leaks and replace the pump assembly if necessary.

INSTALLATION
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1. Clean the gasket surfaces of the engine coolant pump body and the cylinder block.

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1. Install the new engine coolant pump gasket and pump assembly. Tighten the bolts to the specified torque. Tightening torque

Engine coolant pump bolt:
Head mark "7": 17 - 22 Nm(170 - 220 kg.cm, 12 - 16 ft. lbs.)

1. Install the water pump fitting, the thermostat case and the water outlet fitting.
2. Install the auto tensioner and timing belt. Adjust the timing belt tension, then install the timing belt cover.
3. Install the drive belt, coolant pump pulley and then adjust the auto tensioner.
4. Refill the coolant.
5. Run the engine and check for leaks.

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Before head gasket replacement have you checked these
Intake Manifold Gaskets May Leak Coolant or Engine Oil
engine or leak. In some cases, an internal coolant leak may occur causing coolant to mix with the engine oil. Our technicians tell us that operating the engine with a coolant/oil mix can result in internal engine damage. Replacing the intake manifold gasket should correct these leaks.
Leaking Water Pump May Cause Coolant Loss and Overheating
A coolant leak may develop from the . The may overheat as a result of the coolant loss. A leaking water pump should be replaced.
Headgasket replacement
step 1. undo negative battery cable or completely remove battery and tray.
step 2. remove air cleaner and associated piping if it is in the way to allow access to head, drain cooling system and remove upper radiator hose.
step 3. remove top portion of exhaust manifold.
step 4. remove intake manifold and fuel injection rail as necessary
step 5. remove spark wires and valve cover.
step 6. remove drive belts and top timing cover before removing timing belt find all alignment marks and paint to improve your visibility and aid in reassembly if no marks are present remove spark plug # 1 and rotate until piston is at tdc and check timing mark on crankshaft that it is on 0 then paint the belt and cams anything that has teeth that the timing belt rides on make a mark to aid in reassembly even if you are replacing t-belt at least you can compare to new belt and transfer marks, release tension on t-belt tensioner and remove t-belt.
step 7. remove head bolts start loosening at inside and work outwards reemove head bolts and pay attention to sizing and placement.
carefully check for anything that is still attached to head and if free tap head with rubber or dead blow hammer to free from block and lift straight up so as not to ruin or bend any of the alignment pegs.
step 8. remove head gasket material with non-scratching tools or scrapers or buff pads made for that job. making note of where it was blown.
step 9. decide if you should send head to machine shop to have mating surface made flat again and also to have valves and related parts inspected or replaced. usually about $300-$400
step 10. inspect block remove all gasket material look for pitting or scarring also use straight edge to determine if it is straight or if it needs to be resurfaced by a machine shop.
step 11. install new headgasket and check fit. If all is good reassemble in reverse order of removal and I always like to replace crank seal ,cam seal, water pump, t-belt and tensioner also thermostat, drivebelts, spark plugs, cap, rotor, wires, pcv valve, intake manifold ,exhaust manifold gaskets.
this is just a broad overview hope it helps you will have to get haynes manual or similar for head torque values and what not

Replacing the belt and tensioner is fairly easy and shouldn't cost to much. At least replace the belt if the tensioner is decent. Nothing is worse than having a belt break on the road and being stuck. As for AC, that's really up to you on how hot you like it. :)

The center link on the idler arm would be a good idea in time. You could wait for a while, but don't compromise your steering and handling to much.

As for the lower intake gasket you could run into big problems down the road. GM put a plastic type gasket into these 4.3L motors and they fail all the time. Even at low miles like you have. The problem is you might just be leaking coolant outside the engine block for now, but the gasket could fail and get coolant inside the motor and cause much more problems when mixing with oil and possible engine failure.

Good luck! Let me know if you have other questions. I just replaced a lower intake gasket on a 2001 GMC Jimmy a few months ago.

Hello, Here are the steps for removing and reinstalling your water pump.
Removal

1. Disconnect the positive battery cable.
2. Put a drain pan under the radiator and drain the coolant. Drain the coolant out via the drain plug on the radiator.
3. When drained close the drain plug.
4. Put another drain pan under the timing belt cover.
5. Now you need to remove the timing belt cover.
6. Use a ratchet and remove all the bolts to the time belt cover.
7. Remove timing belt cover.
8. When you get the cover off remove the timing belt.
9. ***NOTE*** due to the time, labor and potential cost of replacing the water pump and the fact that the timing belt is right there it is recommend to put a new timing belt on during the installation process.
10. Remove the bolts that secure the coolant inlet pipe with a ratchet.
11. Remove the pipe and gasket.
12. Remove the belt and idler pulley attached to the water pump. Don't get and coolant or grease on it.
13. Now you need to remove the mounting bolts from the water pump with a ratchet.
14. Remove the pump.
15. Inspect the seating of the gasket real well.
16. Remove all the crud off it with a lint free rag, I repeat lint free rag.

Now to install the new water pump

1. Install the new water pump with the new gaskets provided. Never reuse the old gaskets.
2. Install mounting bolts and torque them at 14-18 foot pounds.
3. There is a bolt that will connect the alternator bracket to the water pump that needs to be torqued at 23-38 foot-pounds.
4. Reinstall the idler pulleys and tighten down with your ratchet.
5. Replace the gasket for the coolant intake pipe with the new gasket.
6. Now torque the remaining bolts to 14-18 foot pounds.
7. Slide the [hopefully new] timing belt back.
8. Reattach the timing covers.
9. Tighten them bolts with your ratchet.
10. Use a mix of 50% water and 50% antifreeze and fill up the radiator and overfill.
11. Squeeze the radiator hoses a few times to get the air out of the hoses.
12. Hook your battery back up.
13. Start the car and let it heat up to full running temperature, with the heat on and check for leaks.
14. Now top off the coolant level again.
15. Go for a short drive.
16. Reinspect for leak.
17. End of job.

Regards, Tony

YOU HAVE TO REMOVE TIMING BELT AND IDLER PULLEY.YOU NEED TO REPLACE TIMING BELT WHEN YOU REPLACE WATER PUMP.TO REPLACE WATER PUMP. DRAIN COOLANT SYSTEM.REMOVE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE.REMOVE TIMING BELT AND IDLER PULLEY.UNBOLT AND REMOVE THE WATER PUMP.CLEAN ANY GASKET MATERIAL OR SEALANT RESIDUE FROM THE WATER PUMP MATING SEALING SURFACES.WHEN INSTALLING NEW WATER PUMP BESURE TO USE A SEALANT ON BOTH SIDES OF WATER PUMP GASKET TO KEEP IT FROM LEAKING COOLANT.TORQUE WATER PUMP BOLTS TO 13 FT LBS IN A TWO STEP CRISSCROSS SEQUENCE.INSTALL THE IDLER PULLEY.TIGHTEN THE MOUNTING BOLT TO 31 FT LBS.INSTALL AND TENSION THE TIMING BELT.INSTALL THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE.REFILL BLEED THE COOLANT SYSTEM.

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Drain the engine coolant.
3. Remove or disconnect the following:
   
   Timing belt Alternator brace from the water pump Timing belt rear cover Water pump mounting bolts Water pump, gasket and O-ring
   

To install:

1. Install or connect the following:
   
   New O-ring on the water inlet pipe. Coat the O-ring with water or coolant. Do not allow oil or other grease to contact the O-ring. Water pump to the engine block, with new gasket. Torque the mounting bolts to 10 ft. lbs. (13 Nm) Alternator brace on the water pump. Torque the brace pivot bolt to 17 ft. lbs. (24 Nm). Timing belt rear cover Timing belt Remaining components
   
2. Refill the engine with coolant.
3. Connect the negative battery cable, start the engine and check for leaks.

Hope this gets you back on the road.

Not directly related just time for the pump to go. It has to do with the engine running so long with the old belt tension then a little extra tension when one readjust the belts on the pump and the seal wears. NOW if he did not put the gaskets back new or if he did not clean off the old gaskets before he installed new. That would be his fault. Loose bolts or broken bolts thats his fault. Look for a lot of gasket glue. Too much glue can cause a coolant leak. Look close for these signs. If the pump is leaking from the weep hole, it just is worn out.

2.0L Engine
SOHC ENGINE
See Figure 8

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Raise the car and support it with safety stands.

CAUTION Never open, service or drain the radiator or cooling system when hot; serious burns can occur from the steam and hot coolant. Also, when draining engine coolant, keep in mind that cats and dogs are attracted to ethylene glycol antifreeze and could drink any that is left in an uncovered container or in puddles on the ground. This will prove fatal in sufficient quantities. Always drain coolant into a sealable container. Coolant should be reused unless it is contaminated or is several years old.

1. Drain and recycle the engine coolant.
2. Remove the timing belt.
3. Unfasten the timing belt tensioner bolt and remove the tensioner.
4. Disconnect the lower radiator hose from the water pump.
5. Lower the car and disconnect the heater hose from the water pump.
6. Unfasten the three bolts and one stud from the water pump.
7. Remove the water pump.

Fig. 8: Location of the water pump mounting bolts (A) and stud (B)-2.0L SOHC engine


To install:

WARNING Do not use any abrasive grinding discs to remove gasket material. Use a plastic manual gasket scraper to remove the gasket residue. Be careful not to scratch or gouge the aluminum sealing surfaces when cleaning them.

1. Clean the gasket surfaces thoroughly until all traces of the old gasket residue are removed. Inspect the gasket mating surfaces, both must be clean and flat.
2. Install a new gasket and the water pump.
3. Install the water pump bolts and stud to 15-22 ft. lbs. (20-30 Nm).
4. Connect the heater hose to the pump.
5. Raise the car and support it with safety stands.
6. Connect the lower radiator hose to the pump.
7. Install the timing belt tensioner and tighten the bolt to 15-22 ft. lbs. (20-30 Nm).
8. Install the timing belt and lower the car.
9. Fill the cooling system with the proper amount and mixture of coolant.
10. Start the engine and check for leaks.
    

DOHC ENGINE
See Figure 9

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   

CAUTION Never open, service or drain the radiator or cooling system when hot; serious burns can occur from the steam and hot coolant. Also, when draining engine coolant, keep in mind that cats and dogs are attracted to ethylene glycol antifreeze and could drink any that is left in an uncovered container or in puddles on the ground. This will prove fatal in sufficient quantities. Always drain coolant into a sealable container. Coolant should be reused unless it is contaminated or is several years old.

1. Drain and recycle the engine coolant.
2. Raise the car and support it with safety stands.
3. Unfasten the splash shield bolts and remove the shield.
4. Loosen the water pump pulley retaining bolts, then remove the drive belt.
5. Remove the A/C compressor bolts and move the compressor aside.
6. Unfasten the water pump retainers and remove the pump from the middle timing belt cover.

Fig. 9: Remove the water pump mounting retainers-2.0L DOHC engine


To install:

1. Install the water pump and tighten the retainers to 17 ft. lbs. (24 Nm).
2. Place the A/C compressor in position and tighten the mounting bolts.
3. Install the drive belt and tighten the water pump pulley bolts.
4. Install the splash shield and tighten the bolts.
5. Fill the cooling system with the proper amount and mixture of coolant.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.
7. Start the engine and check for leaks.

Hi there,

Below are the steps..

Disconnect negative battery cable.


Drain engine coolant.


Remove timing belt (please make sure you know how to do this, otherwise, seek help from a certified mechanic) Remove tensioner and idler. Remove water pump. Remove any gasket fragments, dirt or oil from sealing surfaces. Install new gasket on water pump. To prevent dropping the gasket when installing, put sealant in gasket groove. But do not apply to sealing surfaces. Install water pump. Install tensioner, idler and timing belt. Fill engine coolant. Connect negative battery cable. Start engine and check for leaks. Regards, Jeep Brainy

Sounds like coolant ports in the engine block is gunked up. Did you maybe notice the coolant ports when you changed the head gaskets? And, or, change the radiator cap,if you haven't already done so, I've seen them heat up over that too.