Smell Something Funny, Hear That Noise? Know When It’s Time for Water Pump Replacement

Changing the water pump – yes, this may sound a bit intimidating, but if you can smell smoke before it turns into a full-blown fire, then you could give yourself time to prepare instead of being caught off-guard and burn. Now, knowing when it’s time to perform water pump replacement doesn’t require a high I.Q. All you need are some tried and tested guidelines – and a lot of commonsense.

Signs of Trouble

Engine coolants have a distinct smell. They’re not exactly pungent, but they do bother the nasal cavities and fill the throat like a thick swab of grease. If you start to get a hint of this smell, it’s time to become just a teeny bit concerned. If the smell earlier described is too strong in the passenger compartment, and if your windshield has this sudden tendency to steam up without warning, you might want to take a look at the heater core. But if that’s not the problem, the water pump is the next possible culprit.

You also need to watch out for the level in your overflow bottle; if it’s dropping faster than usual, you can bet your keys your water pump is asking for a little attention – which you should give right away. If luck is on your side, it could just be some leak in your hose connection or your radiator. Otherwise, you may need to get ready for water pump replacement.

First Aid

One of the things you should have is a mirror – plus good lighting. Check out the vent hole found at the bottom of the nose of the pump casting, or, if you think you have what it takes, do a jack-stand and support the front of your car so you could check things out from underneath. You can expect your seals to make a slight weeping sound (you can lube the faces using a small amount of coolant), but if you find drips in any or every one of them, this is a heads-up that you should shop for an estimate or a quote.

If things work out there, the next thing to do is to grasp the water pump pulley or the fan, and check if it sways or rocks. Anything more than a slight movement will tell you that the bearing is going out, falling off. Take off the belt and know how the bearing feels when you move to rotate the pump shaft. If there’s a hint of roughness, even the tiniest one, it would be smart for you to recommend water pump replacement right away. Don’t take the smallest details for granted, lest you regret it big time later on. Take your car to your trusted auto repair shop and let the experts examine your car for sure.