2003 Chevy 1500HD Bad Water Pump

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If its leaking around the pump, its more than likely just the seal.

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How easy could I address this issue myself? On a scale of 1-10, I am a 2-3 when it comes to mechanical stuff.

sounds like you're coolant system is experiencing electrolysis.

Dexcool plus tap water = yearly water pump, intake manifold gasket and sometimes head gasket and heater core replacements.
You need to completely flush out the system with distilled water(can be bought for .88 a gallon at Walmart).

Once it's all flushed out of the motor then you add in a 50/50 mixture of green antifreeze and distilled water.

Never put anything besides antifreeze or distilled water in the system again.

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Dexcool plus tap water = yearly water pump, intake manifold gasket and sometimes head gasket and heater core replacements. You need to completely flush out the system with distilled water(can be bought for .88 a gallon at Walmart).

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Have never put tap water. Only use the premix dexcool. It was flushed in 5/2016 when water pump was replaced. Had not added anything until last night when I saw it was leaking again. Is there any chance its just the seal and not another $400+ job?

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Is this a 6.0l v-8?

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Yes.

So is it possible its just the gasket? I cant imagine a damn water pump only lasting 10 months. It never lost a drop in the container since 5/2016 until the last couple days.

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Is that common to go out so quick?

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no, not really. The metal gaskets are known to go bad as well but i wouldn't think they would be unless the bolts backed out

Its not very hard at all. I had an 03 Avalanche. Hardest part is getting the cooling fan off. You need a large open end wrench and you need to need to hit the wrench very sharply to the left to loosen. Once that's off, just a few remove a few bolts and the serpentine belt to take off. Good time to replace the serpentine belt and the A/C belt if they are separate.

not saying it is, but chevys around the year of yours had defective plastic intake manifold gaskets that dry out and crack.

mine had a water leak that looked like it was coming from the water pump but it was leaking from the front of the manifold behind the water pump.

if coolant is leaking from running down the block and not from the little drain hole under the water pump, then its not the water pump leaking.

cost me around $800 to get that gasket replaced because damn near "everything" has to come off to do it.

its a 100% certainty that if you haven't had it replaced yet you WILL have a leak issue with it because they perish with age and there is nothing you can do to prevent it but using the less corrosive coolant helps extend its lifespan.

just about any GM vehicle from 99-05 will have these trashy garbage intake manifold gaskets. my nieces Malibu overheated and cracked the block because hers blew out and ran out of water on the interstate. by the time the idiot lights went off and she pulled over, the block had cracked from overheating

read more about it here LINK /

Call the shop...it is probably under warranty if less than a year.

you never know until you try.

Never ever under any circumstances buy a rebuilt water pump, always buy a new pump. Did I say never ever buy a rebuilt pump?