
Note: Leaks at the weep hole or at the water pump gasket are typically caused by contaminated coolant (or dirty coolant). If this is the case with your vehicle, it is best to have one of YourMechanic’s certified mobile mechanics look over your car for proper diagnosing. There are some vehicles that will not allow you to see the water pump without removing the timing cover and this is a lengthy process. Leaks can develop around a gasket or from the weep hole in the water pump, which both acts as a vent and cools the water pump. You will see drips or puddles of coolant underneath your car when it is sitting for periods of time, While coolant can be different colors, they all have a sweet smell to them and are easy to identify. It is possible to see signs of coolant leaking before you experience your vehicle’s engine overheating. There should be no movement, if there is, this along with the noise is a good indication you may have a water pump problem. With gloves on, grab it and wiggle it back and forth. With the engine off, open your hood and locate the water pump pulley. This is a sign to pull over safely and turn off your engine. If the coolant isn’t circulating or if there is no coolant to circulate, the heater can’t do it’s job of keeping the inside of your car warm. One of the first symptoms you will notice first is that the heater may blow cool air instead of hot air when turned on. Not only does the coolant cool your engine, but it also plays a part in keeping your heater blowing hot.
You may notice that these noises increase and decrease as the engine’s RPMs increase and decrease. You will hear strange noises coming from the engine compartment which can sound like a groaning, squealing or squeaking noise. Listening for strange noises is another way to inspect if your water pump is failing.
These are all signs of a failing water pump.
Warning: If you experience smoke coming from under the hood along with any warning lights, stay clear of the vehicle until it cools off to prevent getting burned by hot coolant. Pull over and turn off your engine immediately. Here you can notice your temperature gauge rising into the red zone. You may see a warning light illuminate for low coolant. Located on your dashboard, the temperature gauge will illuminate if the engine is running hot. There are several safe ways to inspect if your car may need a replacement water pump. ARMSTRONG ASTRO 30 PUMP FLOW THROUGH HOW TO
Part 1 of 2: How to tell if a car’s water pump needs replacement. If the water pump shows signs of weakness or fails completely, coolant will not flow through the cooling system correctly and if coolant does not flow, engine temperatures rise and it begins to overheat. When there is a problem with the flow of operation and your engine starts to get hot, it is time to investigate if your car’s water pump is failing. The water pump pushes the coolant back into the engine where the process repeats. Once in the radiator, the coolant, with the the help of the radiator, the cooling fan, and even the outside air flowing into the grill of your vehicle, dissipates the excess heat. The flow of coolant is held back by the thermostat until the coolant reaches the desired temperature, when the thermostat opens up and allows the coolant to flow through the radiator hose into the radiator. The coolant helps keep the engine temperature low. The water pump moves the coolant through the coolant passages that are located in the engine. It is in your best interest to avoid that at all costs! It is important to understand how the water pump works in the engine’s cooling system so you can be better aware of why your car’s water pump may be failing. The job of the water pump is to cool down the engine with coolant, which in turn assists in making sure the engine does not overheat.Įngine overheating is a very dangerous thing for your car and could lead to eventual engine failure. The water pump is a part of your vehicle with an important role in the engine's cooling system.