Replacing your water pump for your car is not that hard of a task to do. So in order to save a couple of bucks of auto shop fees, why not do it yourself? Here is a guide that will help you know how to replace water pump on your own. But before you start taking out your old water pump, here are the things that you will need to do this job:
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Assorted screwdrivers
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Drain pan
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Gasket scraper
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New hose clamps
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Open or box end wrenches
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Permatex #2 gasket sealer
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Ratchet wrench set with universal joint
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Water pump and gasket
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Wire brush
Now, you still need to read a couple of things before you start with this water pump replacement. After you’ve gathered your materials, just hold your horses and read these instructions carefully before you begin.
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Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to do this task. It’s not going to help if you hurry this job because you have to make sure you’ve replaced everything correctly.
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Always keep in mind your safety when doing car projects such as this. Make sure to be cautious of hot or sharp objects and hazardous materials. Wear protective gloves or goggles as much as possible.
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Do not substitute tools unless you are a hundred percent sure it won’t compromise your safety or your car’s performance.
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Make sure that your car is supported by jack stands and not just by a hack. Make sure to work on a solid surface.
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Let your engine cool and make sure the ignition is off before starting this project. It would also be best to remove the negative terminal of your battery.
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Before you begin, make sure that you’ve purchased the right water pump, by comparing your old one with the new. Take note of the hub height, hose connections, and bolt holes. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to take a digital photograph to bring to your dealer to make sure you get the right one. At the same time, the digital photograph will serve as a reference later on when replacing back everything.
Now it’s time to work. Follow these steps to replace your water pump.
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First drain the coolant from your engine block or radiator into the drain pan. You can reuse the coolant if it’s still clean. Just make sure that your drain pan is clean. However, if your coolant is rusty, dirty, or more than two years, flush your system as it can cause failure to new pumps.
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Now remove the fan and fan clutch by starting with the fan shroud. Remove the fan bolts. Check these pieces for cracks or bents because if it’s already damaged, perhaps it’s also time to replace them while you’re at it.
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Remove other components to make the water pump accessible. These components are the belts, alternator, power steering pump, and your AC’s compressor. If you can just move them and not remove the hoses or wires, it will make your work easier.
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Now it’s time to remove the heater and by-pass hoses that are linked to your water pump, including the hose fittings. Remove the bolts as well. Again, if your hoses or bolts need replacement, please do so to avoid any damage.
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Next, remove the old water pump from your engine.
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Mount the new water pump making sure the gasket matches the surfaces that will be sealed.
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The sides of the gasket must be thinly coated with your gasket sealer before they are positioned back to the engine. Also, lightly coat the threads and bolts with a non-hardening sealer. Install the pump and bolts in place. Tighten everything but do not over tighten to avoid pump damage.
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Reconnect the hoses. Use new clamps and apply sealants on corroded hose connections. Make sure to go back to your photograph to check everything is in place. You may also refer to your car’s manual just to make sure that everything is placed back to their original position.
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