How to Change a Water Pump
If you have found yourself with a leaky water pump, or water pump that has stopped functioning properly, it is time to think about getting it replaced. Replacing a water pump can get someone challenging when you are working with vehicles newer than 1998. This is because many of them are on front wheel drive engines that give you limited room and many more obstacles in the way.
Removing the water pump itself is relatively easy, and only requires a few tools and a new gasket. It is getting all the parts out of the way and then remembering how they all go back on that presents most of the challenge.
let's go over some simple steps that I hope will help you get your water pump changed and your vehicle back in working running order.
Step 1) Drain your coolant and disconnect your battery
Step 2) Locate Your Water Pump
In every instance, your water pump is going to be located on the front of your engine. This is true whether you have a front wheel or rear wheel drive engine. On a rear wheel drive engine you will find the water pump behind the fan and its pulley. On a front wheel drive engine you will find the water pump at the front of the engine (which will be the left or right side of your engine compartment depending on your vehicle), and will usually be behind the serpentine belt and its accessories.
Step 3) Get Everything Out of the Way
On your rear wheel drive vehicle, you will need to remove the fan, fan pulley, radiator hoses, alternator, power steering pump and just about everything except the crank pulley. You will need to get to all the bolts on the water pump and they are almost always hidden behind the accessories that attatch the front of the engine block.
On your front wheel drive engine, you will need to remove the serpentine belt and any pulleys that are attatched to the front of the engine block. Also remove any wires or harness that are in the way of accessing the water pump. In most cases with front wheel drive engines, you will have to remove the wheel nearest the front of the engine, and jack or hoist the engine up side ways to access the water pump.
Step 4) Get a socket and ratchet and remove any bolts securing the water pump to the engine block. There are usually 6 or more bolts.
Step 5) Once you have pulled the water pump off of the engine block, you will need to make sure to clean the engine block and the surfaces of the water pump with a good gasket scrapper to remove any left over gasket.
Step 6) Get out your new gasket, and some RTV water proof glue. Spread the RTV glue around the surface of the water pump that the gasket will go on, and then place the new gasket on it and press down. Set the water pump down and give the gasket some time to glue onto the water pump.
While you let it dry, make sure your engine block is clean, and then place some RTV glue on the surface where the water pump attatches.
Step 7) Replace the water pump with all its bolts. Be careful not to break the new gasket or squish it.
Step 8) Replace any accessories pulleys or parts that go onto the front of the engine block
Step 9) Refill the radiator with new coolant and water and reconnect your battery.
Step 10) Turn your engine on and check the water pump to make sure you don't have any leaks. Check all your hoses to make sure they are not leaking either.
Ta Da! You're done! That wasn't so bad, was it?
I want to suggest that any time you decide to change your water pump, it is always wise to replace your thermostat and sensor while your doing that.
It is also illegal to dump coolant or leave it out in a container without a lid, so make sure you dispose of your coolant properly!
www.ehow.com/acceleratedautoSee ya there!
