{"id":84224,"date":"2023-05-26T01:43:13","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T08:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=84224"},"modified":"2023-10-02T23:39:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T06:39:08","slug":"water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Pump Pulley Noise and Other Symptoms of a Bad Pulley"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_39c2a4-73{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_39c2a4-73 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_39c2a4-73 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-652e99  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-019dc7\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_b56fd4-c2\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A water pump pulley, also known as the hub flange, is a part of your vehicle&rsquo;s cooling system that transfers the drive belt&rsquo;s movement to the bearing spindle. It helps power the water pump, which keeps your engine safe from overheating.<\/li><li>The water pump pulley is one of the water pump&rsquo;s five basic parts. It connects the bearing shaft assembly to the impeller. It&rsquo;s also common to have the pulley as a separate part that has to be bolted to the water pump shaft with three or four bolts.<\/li><li>Symptoms of a bad water pump pulley include a whirring or grinding noise coming from your vehicle, physical damage on the impeller or bearings, and visible wear on the water pump and the belt.<\/li><li>While you can drive with a bad water pump pulley, doing so isn&rsquo;t a good idea for too long. A water pump pulley can last around 60,000 to 90,000 miles, and a new one can cost between $20 to $140.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/water-pump-pulley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"pulley\">pulley<\/a> is an important part of your vehicle&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/a-short-course-on-cooling-systems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"cooling system\">cooling system<\/a>. It helps power the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/water-pump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"water pump\">water pump<\/a>, which keeps your engine safe from overheating. Without it, the pump will most likely fail, causing severe damage to your engine. Because of this, it&rsquo;s important to know when the pulley starts to fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a Water Pump Pulley?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All engines need some type of cooling system to keep them from overheating. Most modern vehicles have a water pump, which injects coolant from the radiator to the engine. As it circulates through the passages, the coolant picks up heat from the engine.&nbsp;<br>While its design can vary depending on the vehicle&rsquo;s make and model, a water pump has five basic parts: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/water-pump-housing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"housing\">housing<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/water-pump-impeller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"impeller\">impeller<\/a>, bearing, seal, and pulley. The pulley, also known as the hub flange, connects the bearing shaft assembly to the impeller with blades that spin very close to a specially shaped reaction surface to move the coolant as efficiently as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pulley-part-of-the-water-pump-1024x503.jpg\" alt=\"pulley part of the water pump\" class=\"wp-image-86176\" width=\"1024\" height=\"503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pulley-part-of-the-water-pump-1024x503.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pulley-part-of-the-water-pump-300x147.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pulley-part-of-the-water-pump-768x377.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pulley-part-of-the-water-pump-150x74.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/pulley-part-of-the-water-pump.jpg 1361w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>This pulley is part of the water pump and can&rsquo;t be replaced without replacing the entire pump. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_5e820c-ec{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_5e820c-ec > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_5e820c-ec kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var( --global-kb-row-default-top, 25px );padding-bottom:var( --global-kb-row-default-bottom, 25px );padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;padding-right:32px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:28px;padding-bottom:25px;padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:px;}#kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5 .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:%;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-rowlayout alignnone pro-tip-wrap\"><div id=\"kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5\" class=\"kt-row-layout-inner kt-layout-id_e5dadf-b5\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-gutter-none kt-v-gutter-default kt-row-valign-top kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-right-golden kt-m-colapse-left-to-right kt-mobile-layout-right-golden  kt-custom-first-width-10  kt-custom-second-width-90\"><style>.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column_5913ee-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_5913ee-e4 kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image_636d29-06.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image_636d29-06 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image_636d29-06.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image_636d29-06 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image_636d29-06 figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image_636d29-06 .image-is-svg, .kb-image_636d29-06 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image_636d29-06 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image_636d29-06\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_af31e8-df{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_af31e8-df > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-2 kadence-column_af31e8-df pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            <span>The water pump pulley is sometimes a part of the water pump that can&rsquo;t be replaced without replacing the pump. If the pulley has an issue on this type of component, the whole pump will need replacing.<\/span>\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it&rsquo;s also very common to have the pulley as a separate part that has to be bolted to the water pump shaft with three or four bolts. On older vehicles, the fan and the water pump pulley would both be bolted to the water pump shaft so the belt could drive the water pump and the fan at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most water pump pulleys never fail. However, in some cases, they can fail depending on how they&rsquo;re designed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>On older vehicles, the fan and the water pump pulley would both be bolted to the water pump shaft so the belt could drive the water pump and the fan at the same time.<\/p><cite><em>&ndash;&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\">Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/water-pump-pulley-on-a-dodge-caravan-1024x404.jpg\" alt=\"water pump pulley on a dodge caravan\" class=\"wp-image-86177\" width=\"1024\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/water-pump-pulley-on-a-dodge-caravan-1024x404.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/water-pump-pulley-on-a-dodge-caravan-300x118.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/water-pump-pulley-on-a-dodge-caravan-768x303.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/water-pump-pulley-on-a-dodge-caravan-150x59.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/water-pump-pulley-on-a-dodge-caravan.jpg 1304w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>The water pump pulley on this Dodge Caravan is designed to be easily removed before replacing the water pump. | Image Source: Richard McCuistian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms of a Bad Water Pump Pulley<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be hard to diagnose a bad pulley, especially when there are different reasons why your water pump is making unusual noises. Luckily, there are other bad water pump pulley symptoms you can look out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Whining Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A bad water pump pulley noise will often sound like high-pitched whining. Over time, a pulley can get rusty and start to crack between its bolt holes. This can cause the hub to loosen, making a whining sound when spinning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grinding Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you hear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/grinding-noise-when-driving-causes-what-to-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"grinding\">grinding<\/a> instead of a whining sound, then the issue is most likely the pulley&rsquo;s bearings and not the pulley itself. A grinding or squealing noise from the front of the engine is most likely due to faulty bearings. The pump&rsquo;s bearings will naturally wear over time, but static overload, corrosion, and misalignment can also speed up the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Physical Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you notice any physical damage on the impeller or bearings, then it might be because of a bad pulley. A bad pulley will most likely become loose and wobble, causing vibrations to occur. These vibrations interfere with the torque of the impeller, causing it to spin in an unbalanced manner. This can damage the impeller and bearings, causing them to fail early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visible Wear on the Pump and Belt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Visible wear on any part of the pump might be a sign that it&rsquo;s time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/signs-of-a-bad-water-pump-is-it-time-to-replace-yours\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"replace the whole pump\">replace the whole pump<\/a>, including the pulley. Corrosion is often caused by using the wrong coolant or air seeping through a faulty pressure cap. If you notice any rust or tiny holes on the pump, then the corrosion has likely spread to other parts of the pump, including the impeller, bearings, and pulley. This can also cause the belt to slip from the pulley, which can lead to further damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A broken or cracked belt can also be a sign of a bad pulley. If the pulley is too tight, it can restrict the belt&rsquo;s movement and damage it over time. A loose pulley can also cause the belt to slip and the cooling system to fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overheating Engine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you notice a spike in your temperature gauge, then it might be because of a bad pulley. A bad pulley won&rsquo;t be able to power the impeller, so the coolant won&rsquo;t circulate and pull heat from your engine. This can cause your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-type-of-damage-to-expect-from-an-overheating-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"engine to overheat\">engine to overheat<\/a>, which can cause lasting damage to your vehicle, such as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-are-the-signs-of-a-blown-head-gasket\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"blown head gasket\">blown head gasket<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/engine-seized-symptoms-plus-faq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"seized engine\">seized engine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does a Water Pump Pulley Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The water pump pulley transfers the drive belt&rsquo;s movement to the bearing spindle. It powers the impeller while mediating the amount of torque that passes through. In other words, it makes sure the impeller doesn&rsquo;t spin too fast or too slow, so the impeller can maintain the liquid&rsquo;s pressure and flow inside the water pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Water Pump Pulley FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1685003549319\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can You Drive With a Bad Water Pump Pulley?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">While your engine can still run with a bad pulley, it isn&rsquo;t a good idea to drive your vehicle around for too long. The pulley is a vital component of your vehicle&rsquo;s cooling system. Without it, the cooling system will most likely fail, and the engine might overheat. This can seriously damage your vehicle&rsquo;s pistons, cylinders, and more.<br><br>Because of this, it&rsquo;s best to avoid driving and to get a replacement as soon as possible. You can save your vehicle from further damage while saving yourself from a bigger repair bill.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1685003566311\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How Long Does a Water Pump Pulley Last?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Like the other components of a water pump, the pulley can last around 60,000 to 90,000 miles. This can change depending on your vehicle&rsquo;s make and model, how you drive, and how often you drive. Keeping up with your vehicle&rsquo;s maintenance schedule can also increase the pulley&rsquo;s lifespan.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1685003578120\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can You Lubricate the Water Pump Pulley?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">While lubricants can prevent rust and corrosion, you don&rsquo;t need to apply them on the pulley or any part of the water pump. Most modern vehicles have self-lubricating water pumps, so adding lubricant is unnecessary. Good quality pumps should last for a long time even without any lube or oil.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1685003592791\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How Much Does A Water Pump Pulley Replacement Cost?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Repair costs will vary on several factors, such as your vehicle&rsquo;s make, model, and the product&rsquo;s brand. On average, however, a water pump pulley can cost anywhere from $20 to $140. In some cases, you&rsquo;ll need to replace the entire water pump and not just the pulley. This can cost you anywhere from $10 to $1,120.<br><br>If you suspect that you have a water pulley problem, it&rsquo;s best to consult a mechanic so that they can identify every component that needs replacing.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>A pulley is an important part of your vehicle&rsquo;s cooling system. It helps power the water pump, which keeps your&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":84331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3753,52],"tags":[3792],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-84224","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cooling-system","8":"category-diy","9":"tag-water-pump-pulley","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Water Pump Pulley Noise and Other Symptoms of a Bad Pulley - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unsure about the noise your vehicle\u2019s water pump is making? Learn about the different symptoms of a bad water pump pulley here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Water Pump Pulley Noise and Other Symptoms of a Bad Pulley - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Unsure about the noise your vehicle\u2019s water pump is making? Learn about the different symptoms of a bad water pump pulley here.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-05-26T08:43:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-10-03T06:39:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/front-engine-and-water-pump.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. 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The pulley is a vital component of your vehicle\u2019s cooling system. Without it, the cooling system will most likely fail, and the engine might overheat. This can seriously damage your vehicle\u2019s pistons, cylinders, and more.<br\/><br\/>Because of this, it\u2019s best to avoid driving and to get a replacement as soon as possible. You can save your vehicle from further damage while saving yourself from a bigger repair bill.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\/#faq-question-1685003566311","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/water-pump-pulley-noise-and-other-symptoms-of-a-bad-pulley\/#faq-question-1685003566311","name":"How Long Does a Water Pump Pulley Last?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Like the other components of a water pump, the pulley can last around 60,000 to 90,000 miles. 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