Elizabeth's 2001 Cadillac Catera was leaking antifreeze. I'd really like to avoid this car as the Cateras are notorious for having weird and catastrophic problems, but I figured I'd go ahead and replace this water pump so she can drive (or hopefully sell) the car.

The car is actually made by Opel... remember Opel?

I have the special sockets at least. I call them reverse Torx. I think I don't know the real name because the sockets are labeled E#s... like I used an E10, E12, and E14 on this car today. The bolts have 6 pointed star shaped heads. Some sizes can accept a regular metric or standard wrench, but some won't. European cars use them a lot. Here's a socket picture:

And here's a picture of the engine:

The water pump is down there somewhere ;)

...oh, there it is :)

So that's all done. I have to admit it was extremely aggravating. European cars give me the blues.

I bought me some sockets
I bought me some more
I use the new sockets
The old ones no more

A special tool
I'll only use once
Cost half a weeks salary
I feel like a dunce

that's the mechanic's blues i guess. It's not entirely accurate if we improvise.
I didn't actually buy any special tools for this particular job. I already had the ones I needed. If I'd spent another 400 bucks on the tool kit for the timing belt I would've wanted to replace that too while it was exposed. That might be another story. I mIght even break even on the tool kit in the next ten years. The job can be done with the combined tools I and my co workers have, plus the shop I work in, given the time. This engine type is also in some Saab stories and some Saturns.

Here's my kitty: