The water pump is a very important device as it transports the coolant through the cooling system of a motor vehicle. Water pumps have problems with some regularity, and it has been suggested that the life of a pump is no more than 100,000 miles (170,000 km). Keep reading until the end and learn what are the common failures of the water pumphow to detect failures and more.
The water pump is belt driven and only works when the engine is running. For this reason it is so important for cars and other vehicles with an internal combustion engine.
Common Water Pump Failures
The cooling system of a car is very important, which is why a water pump must be in optimal conditions. Pump failures and problems will cause poor engine performance, and if not corrected in time, could even cause severe engine damage.
Solution to a bad water pump
water pump problems
water pump problems
Ford Focus water pump
Fault in a water pump
1. Water pump shuts off suddenly
The water pump is a key component of a car’s cooling system.. This pump is the one in charge of circulating the coolant throughout the engine, and also obtains its power from the engine. If any of the gears, bearings, or shaft are damaged, the water pump can break, crack, or stop working altogether or sometimes shut down. Keep reading about: how to find out if a water pump goes out.
2. Sounds and stains in the water pump
If you hear a strange noise in your car, and when you go to look at the water pump you notice that around the pump there are some slightly dark streaks, dots or spots left by a spill, then the device is faulty. Discovering the faults of a water pump is so simple that almost anyone can do it, read on and learn: How to check the water pump of a vehicle.
3. Signs of damage and irregularities
The motor vehicle water pump functions as an essential member of the cooling system. The faster the car goes, the greater the volume of coolant that enters the engine.
Water pumps can have problems for a few reasons, including damaged seals, bearings, impellers, and of course belts. The following link will take you to a post that will guide you to learn: How to spot the signs of a bad water pump.
4. Coolant leaks
The impeller blades found inside the water pump are responsible for forcibly pushing the water through all the passages of the engine, towards the radiator, and return to carry out the process through a permanent cycle. Certain pumps suffer from internal problems and show signs of malfunction due to leaks or overheating.
Water pumps almost never fail suddenly., generally wear progressively and show obvious signs on the outside such as spillage. Keep informed and learn: How to fix coolant leak in a water pump.
5. Problems due to a broken seal
The water pump seal is what prevents water and antifreeze from leaking in and overheating your car’s engine. It is continually necessary to replace the water pump completely to stop a seal leak. Seal leaks can be fixed, and you can do it from home. Read more and find out about: How to stop a water pump seal leak.
6. Wear on a water pump
Water pumps quickly fail if coolant levels are too low. Coolant leaks from water pumps are more common in older cars and are caused by wear and tear. When a pump wears out, motor failure is inevitable. He continues reading and discovers: CHow to remove a water pump pulley.
7. Follo by corroded water pump
The gasoline-based engines of internal combustion vehicles use a kind of mixture of antifreeze and water that is distributed through a radiator. It is also driven by the water pump to reduce the high temperature generated by the work of the engine.
The water pump could be corroded or eaten away when you notice a failure. Water pump bearings are designed to leak when they first start to malfunction or fail. Read on and learn: How to replace an automotive water pump.
8. Problems in pumps of a Pickup or a truck
Maintenance and repairs to a water pump on a conventional car are often different on a pickup truck than on a truck, but can often be done at home. In addition, you can save a great deal of money, since sometimes the larger the vehicle, the more expensive the repair. If you have a large vehicle you can read: How to repair the water pump of a truck or a Pickup.
9. Faults due to burnt or broken water pump
When an engine burns fuel, about a third of the energy created is thermal energy. Without optimal cooling, supplied in part by the water pump, the engine would overheat and even stall. Fortunately, there are several ways to tell if a water pump has burnt out or is simply broken. Learn more about: How to detect a water pump that has burned.
How to know if the water pump is damaged
This video explains in a more visual way how to detect a damaged or deteriorated automotive water pump.
How to detect faults in a water pump
Your car’s water pump is an important part. It’s the part that endlessly pumps coolant into your car’s engine so it doesn’t overheat.. A leak or faulty bearing could cause serious damage to your vehicle’s engine. Puddles of coolant under your car or elevated temperature readings could be signs that your water pump needs to be replaced quickly.
After reading about common water pump faults, you should know that you can also detect the following faults and problems in your water pump:
1. Leaks and leaks.
Let your car stay overnight, parked in a garage with a clean concrete floor. If it’s not possible to park it inside on a clean concrete surface, place a piece of light-colored cardboard under the car directly under the engine. Keep in mind that water pumps are more prone to leaks while the vehicle’s engine is running.so this is a bad reference to find a leak.
Inspect the piece of cardboard the next morning. If it appears to be wet from coolant, you have a leak somewhere, possibly the water pump, but other sources of coolant leaks could be the radiator hoses, heater hoses, freeze plugs, gaskets, or the radiator itself.
To narrow down the search, try placing the cardboard directly under the water pump.. If you can see green or coolant-colored liquid on the cardboard, then you are 50% sure it is coolant. This means you have a coolant leak somewhere.
2. Check the pump pulley.
Find the round area on the front of the water pump where the belt is located. Try to rock the pulley from side to side. If it appears to be loose, it may be time to replace it, because the pump bearing is going bad.
3. Listen to the sounds.
Start your car engine with the hood up. If you hear a low-pitched grinding noise, it may indicate a bad water pump bearing. You also have similar bearings in the AC compressor, power steering pump and alternator, so you need to be able to zero in on the exact source of the sound, often difficult in a running engine.
4. Try to find colored liquid next to the water pump.
If you see drops of water or a small stream around the pump, that means you have a leak. Many water pumps have a drain hole in front of the seal that will allow water to escape if the seal is bad.
5. See if the temperature warning light illuminates.
If your vehicle is not circulating enough coolant due to a leaky or malfunctioning water pump, the engine temperature will rise, activating the warning light.
6. Check to see if the low coolant light is on.
This may be an indicator that your coolant reservoir is leaking or that you have a faulty water pump. Another alternative is that there is a leak in the cooling system.
Advice
Various water pumps are driven by the toothed belt, which is located under a plastic cover. If this is the case with your car, you will not be able to easily determine the pump quality. Common water pump failures usually come in one of two ways: either the pulley gear fails, or water begins to seep into the gasket (or seal) at the rear of the pump.
How do I know if my car’s water pump is working?
This video tells you how you can detect if your car’s water pump is working or not.
