Car timing belt and water pump

Water pump is a part of the coolant circuit. Usually the cause of the water pump failure is its wear. Permanent mechanical stress can result in leaks. Moreover, the pump can completely fail. If there appears coolant under the vehicle, this indicates a leak in the coolant circuit. When searching for a leak, it is necessary carefully to examine the water pump. If the water pump completely fails, it is necessary to substitute it. However, sometimes only gaskets on terminals are faulty. Then it is necessary just to replace them.

Before you remove the water pump, it is necessary to bleed the coolant. It is not allowed using it again, it is necessary to recycle this coolant. After the old water pump is removed, it is necessary thoroughly to clean the surroundings. It is very important all the rust and scale to be completely removed. Finally, install the new pump and connect the new drive belt. In most cases it is advisable to renew the belt as well.

After the pump is installed, fill in the coolant. Then it is necessary to deflate air from the coolant circuit. The installation of water pump should be done according to the car parts maker's instructions. Improper installation can be the cause of the entire cooling system malfunctioning. Moreover, there may appear additional damage because of an improper water pump installation. If you have doubts, entrust specialists to replace the water pump. Do you need a new fan, crankcase, engine bonnet, slave cylinder, Park Distance Control, wishbone, brake cylinder, taillight or other spare car part? You can easily find and order all of them in our online store of car parts.

Water pump failures

• cooling fluid leakage;
• bearing sewing-up;
• impeller damage;
• drive belt wear.

Signs of water pump failures

• engine temperature increasing;
• appearance of a spacing in a pump pulley;
• noise in bearings when engine operates;
• roar of water pump;
• steady smell of lubricant and cooling fluid from under a engine compartment lid;
• slowed motion of a cooling fluid.

Causes of water pump failures

• improper installation of impeller;
• continuous operation of the engine;
• use of the car on a hilly terrain, in traffic jams or at severe climatic conditions;
• usage of low-quality cooling fluid;
• depressurization of system.

Diagnostics

Having found out that the temperature indicator shows considerable excess of average values when the car moves, it is necessary to switch on automobile heater to a maximum level. Then, after a while, stop the car, cut the engine and touch the radiator. The warm part will testify to failure of the water pump. If the drive belt will be heated, the problem consists in it.

Other simple way for definition of the water pump condition is in the following. It is necessary to start engine, having given it zero loading, and clamp with your hand the top hose of the heat exchanger for a short time. If it you feel the movement of a cooling fluid, the pump is in operative condition.

The visual inspection of the place of a parking is the easiest way of the diagnostic. The existence of wet spots on the paving means the breakage of the pump. Green color of such spots indicates leakage of a cooling fluid.

Repair and replacement of water pump

Service life of the water pump is 90 000 operational kilometers. To replace it, do the following:

• drain an old cooling fluid ;
• take off the timing belt;
• turn off all nuts fastening a pump to the engine block;
• take the pump out.

It is better to entrust complex repair works along with a replacement of defective part to specialists of a service station.