Auto: Water Pump Replacement

**cybsball20** · 03-14-2008, 08:48 AM

So yesterday I was driving home and my truck overheated, opened up the engine to see it had sprayed coolant all over the place. A friend of mine said I could have a cracked water pump. Anyone have any experience with these? The truck is at the shop now and I was just wondering what I might be looking at for a bill. Anyone know what might cause this?

Thanks!

**keepngoal** · 03-14-2008, 08:50 AM

Tahoe: ~$800.

It all depends on where your water pump is... and what is in its way for being replaced.

seems like a decent site: 2carpros.

-keep.

**Cyclonesrule91** · 03-14-2008, 08:50 AM

Did you check to see if there was a hole in your radiator hose?

What kind of truck do you have?

**Jerry1982** · 03-14-2008, 08:53 AM

What he said. Waterpumps used to be real simple. Now, it's quite specific to the vehicle/engine. Waterpumps don't crack too often, but rather they drop a seal and leak water. It's possible you have a leak from another source as well. The diagnosis will be easy for your shop.

**cybsball20** · 03-14-2008, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

Did you check to see if there was a hole in your radiator hose?

What kind of truck do you have?

It's a Dodge Dakota 2003. I didn't see any holes off hand, but that's what I am hoping for...

**coachdags** · 03-14-2008, 08:54 AM

Easy way to tell ......with the engine off... grab fan blade if it wobbles or has excessive play, it's the pump.....have them pressure test system to make sur it is not just a thermostat or leak somewhere.........air in the system will cause overheating...

**Cyclonesrule91** · 03-14-2008, 08:54 AM

You didn't crack a water pump. Usually when they start going out, the seals go bad and that is where it goes but waterpumps cracking is quite rare and if that is what happened, something else is going on. Also, usually when a pump starts going bad you will notice leaking radiator fluid on the ground after you have parked the truck for a while.

I would almost guess that you got a pinhole in one of the radiator hoses and that is what sprayed stuff all over the place. Pretty hard to detect unless you catch it when it's coming out but that is most likely the case.

**cybsball20** · 03-14-2008, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by coachdags

Easy way to tell ......with the engine off... grab fan blade if it wobbles or has excessive play, it's the pump.....have them pressure test system to make sur it is not just a thermostat or leak somewhere.........air in the system will cause overheating...

Yes, there was some play in the fan blade.

**Jerry1982** · 03-14-2008, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by coachdags

Easy way to tell ......with the engine off... grab fan blade if it wobbles or has excessive play, it's the pump.....have them pressure test system to make sur it is not just a thermostat or leak somewhere.........air in the system will cause overheating...

Will that work in an '03 Dakota?

**ekim121** · 03-14-2008, 09:01 AM

I would bet its either a bad hose or gasket where the water pump mounts. If the pump were bad it wouldn't necessairly be leaking, it'd just stop working and the car would overheat. I would guess that since the pickup is still an old school pushrod engine that it won't be terribly complicated. Still though, shop labor at mechanical shops is expensive these days so I'd guess at least $300 plus the cost of the pump if that's the issue or $200 or less if its just a hose. Heck, costs nearly $100 just to get a diagnostic these days.

**coachdags** · 03-14-2008, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry1982

Will that work in an '03 Dakota?

when a pump goes bad, that is usually the 1st seal that cracks.....

I had a Dakota once like a 97....the best way is have them pressure test....then you will know for sure.....

pump should be around 100....labor.....?.....new cars/trucks are harder to get to things.....?

**Cyclonesrule91** · 03-14-2008, 09:07 AM

I replaced the water pump in a S-10 that I had and if I remember correctly the water pump was a rebuilt one from NAPA or equivalent store and I paid less then $40 for the pump and it took me 2 1/2 hours to change it out. So that means it will cost you $100 at a shop with their markup and if it takes them 2 hours to do it, their little charge book tells them it is a 4 hour job times $70/hour would be around $350. I guarantee I am within $300 of what they will charge.

Definitely let us know how it turns out.

**Jerry1982** · 03-14-2008, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by coachdags

when a pump goes bad, that is usually the 1st seal that cracks.....

I had a Dakota once like a 97....the best way is have them pressure test....then you will know for sure.....

pump should be around 100....labor.....?.....new cars/trucks are harder to get to things.....?

I was just thinking that with the electric fans that test doesn't work. I don't know an '03 dakota from a hole in the wall. But I am thinking electric fans have been around longer than '03, especially on small engines.

**ISUAlum2002** · 03-14-2008, 09:15 AM

Water pumps are easy to change, but usually they won't just blow up and throw coolant all over the place. If there is coolant all over, I'd bet it is a radiator hose with a pinhole in it. It won't leak when its cold, but when the pressures rise while it gets hot, it'll spray all over.

Usually water pumps just leak out the weep hole on the bottom, and they can't gush coolant out of that small weep hole. Of course, that small amount can appear to be large if it hits the belt and gets flung everywhere.

**Cyclonesrule91** · 03-14-2008, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry1982

I was just thinking that with the electric fans that test doesn't work. I don't know an '03 dakota from a hole in the wall. But I am thinking electric fans have been around longer than '03, especially on small engines.

All front wheel drive cars have electric fans, but I don't think there are many trucks with them. It either has a 3800 V6 or a smaller V8 and I am pretty sure that one would have a clutchfan and belt drive fan.