The water pump is the heart of your engines cooling system. It is turned by a belt (either the exterior serpentine belt, or internal timing belt) and circulates the coolant through the engine, heater, and radiator. The pump usually has a pulley on a shaft, which rides on a bearing with a seal to prevent leakage. Inside is a wheel with angled vanes that forces coolant to flow in a particular direction. All of these components are exposed to the near-boiling temperatures of the coolant.
Water pumps are designed to last many thousands of miles, but lax maintenance or a chance interaction with contaminants can end its life quickly. A slow leak of coolant at the water pump is usually a bad seal, while a noisy water pump is usually losing the bearing. In either case, the entire pump needs replacement.
On some vehicles, the pump is externally mounted at the front of the engine block. Others will have them internally mounted, requiring the removal of the timing cover. In both cases, it’s important to inspect, and usually replace, the drive belt. Especially with the internal water pump, replacing the drive belt can extend usable engine life and prevent extensive engine damage.
Whenever you see leaking coolant, top off your cooling system and bring the car in for inspection. It may not be the water pump, but a cooling system losing coolant can result in extreme engine damage if not addressed quickly. We’ll pinpoint your issue and do all we can to keep you out of hot water!
At Tilden Car Care Center; we have all your repair and maintenance needs covered. We have three locations to serve you around the Fort Worth, TX area including one in White Settlement, TX. We install only quality replacement parts. Give us a call at any of our three locations. Are yoFSon that is right for you. Let us help keep you safely and economically on the road. We service all makes and models and offer free shuttle services.