Ford Water Pump

When your Ford water pump goes bad, you can count on one thing -- you'll be going nowhere fast. In fact, you'll be going nowhere at all without the assistance of a tow truck, if your Ford water pump happens to fail while you are in the midst of your day's travels. Your Ford water pump is the mover and the shaker of your cooling system parts line-up, the source of the power that pushes the coolant through the cooling system as it makes its way through the engine, collecting heat to be dissipated once it reaches the radiator. As your Ford water pump starts down the road to complete failure, you'll begin to experience episodes of vehicle overheating that are out of proportion to your vehicle's activity, such as seeing the steam wafting up from under the hood after you've only driven a few blocks. These episodes may be periodic, at first, as the failure of your Ford water pump to pump may be sporadic during the early stages of failure, with the pump stopping and starting without rhyme or reason. These incidents will gradually happen more frequently and will probably be joined by a grinding or whining sound from your Ford water pump. Once the noise sets in, you should know that every trip you start may very well be your last, at least the last one that you'll be taking with that water pump. You can prepare for that by ordering your Ford water pump replacement as soon as possible, making your selection from the numerous quality replacements we have available in our online catalog. You can place your Ford water pump replacement order online, using our secure ordering system, or you can dial our toll-free telephone number to place your order directly with one of our courteous and capable customer service representatives.

Your Ford water pump performs a unique function. It is responsible for regulating the temperature of your engine so it doesn't overheat. By pumping water and coolant into your engine, the water pump eliminates unnecessary heat from the car. This car component can last long on optimal conditions, but sometimes, natural wear can cause it to leak. As you know, a faulty water pump can cause serious damage to your car, so when you're quite sure that your water pump is damaged, don't put off replacing it. Below is a guide to help you install a new water pump.

Required skill level: Novice

Needed tools and materials:

1. Breaker bar or lever arm
2. Bucket
3. Camera
4. Chalk or pencil
5. Chisel
6. Coolant
7. New water pump
8. Piece of paper
9. RTV silicone or gasket sealant
10. Strap wrench
11. Tray for screws and hose clamps

Preparing for the task

Park the car where there is enough light for you to see the car's internal components. Before you start with the procedure, disengage the battery first so you can move freely without worrying about the radiator fans.

Draining the coolant

If there is a leak in your Ford water pump, empty out the coolant before you do anything else. This will make the next steps easier and safer since there will be nothing to slow you down or hamper your progress. Just remember to not breathe in or touch the liquid that comes out of the coolant. It's hazardous to your health. Use the drain nozzle at the bottom of the radiator to pour the liquid into the bucket.

Removing other components that block access to the water pump

Before you can take out the water pump, you have to remove first the other components that block your access to it. Most of the time, all you have to do is remove screws and hose clamps. This is where the tray will come in handy. Organize everything so you won't have a hard time reassembling the small parts later on. If you have your camera with you, take a picture of the internal components so you'll know where to put things back. If you don't have a camera, a chalk, a pen, and a piece of paper will do. Apart from the screws and hose clamps, you also have to remove the serpentine belt. Use a breaker bar or lever arm for this task. Find the notch at the back of the automatic tensioner and attach the lever arm to it. You can then pull up the tensioner and remove the belt.

Taking out the old water pump

Before you remove the water pump, make sure that the engine is cool. Usually, the water pump will come off easily, but if it won't, pry it off using a chisel. Just be careful to not scratch the gasket area. When the water pump is out, clean the gasket from the engine block. Apply a sealant, ideally an RTV silicone, to the gasket to prevent future leaks. Make sure to put enough on both sides.

Installing the new water pump

Place the new Ford water pump exactly where you removed the old one. Put the bolts in place and tighten them. Refer to the pictures or marks you've made beforehand to guide you with the reassembly. After putting everything back to its place, fill the new water pump with coolant. You're now good to go.