How Long Does It Take to Replace a Water Pump? Easy DIY Task or Not?

Cars are often a big investment, even beyond the initial cost. This is because many of their parts break down with age. The water pump is one such component. Though not many people know about it, this part helps keep the engine cool as you drive your car. If you're experiencing an overheating engine, the odds are you need to replace your water pump.

Cooling equipment problems highlights

• Level of urgency:medium
• Commonreasons:low-quality antifreeze, age, mileage, damage
• DIY diagnostics:very complicated
• DIY repair:impossible
• Price of repair:$350 - $850
• Time for repair:3 - 10 hours
• If ignored:engine overheating, bad coolant leaks, equipment damage

Can you drive your car with a bad water pump?

To understand how serious this issue is, you must first understand what the water pump does. This component is responsible for moving the coolant from your car's engine to the radiator. As the coolant moves near the engine, it absorbs the excessive heat and moves it to the radiator. The radiator then emits this excessive heat into the air, effectively cooling your engine.

When the water pump goes bad, the coolant stops moving. As a result, the engine produces excessive heat that has nowhere to go. Your engine is very sensitive to high temperatures. Left unchecked, it will wear down faster than usual. In some cases, it might seize or even explode.

But can you drive your vehicle in this condition? If you want to be technical about it, then the answer is yes. But then doesn't mean you should. We urge you to not drive your vehicle with a failing water pump, at least not for long distances. Doing so will severely damage your car. And trust us, engine repairs are far more expensive than water pump repairs.

4 signs you should replace your water pump

While understanding the severity of a bad water pump is great, it won't do you much good if you don't know how to tell it's gone bad. Luckily, you can check out the following list of symptoms to find out if your car has a faulty water pump. As always, make sure you go through each symptom thoroughly. If most of them check, you should replace it.

Here are the 4 symptoms of a failing water pump:

1. Your 'Check Engine' light comes on

The most noticeable symptom is the 'Check Engine' light on your dashboard. While it doesn't specifically point to a bad water pump, it tends to appear when your engine overheats. An overheating engine is the main issue caused by a bad water pump.

If your 'Check Engine' light comes on together with the other symptoms on this list, you likely have a bad water pump.

2. Your engine is hotter than usual

When your water pump fails, the coolant will be stuck in the system. Thus, the heat will accumulate in the engine, causing it to wear down prematurely. This is a very serious issue that will only get worse with time. We've seen many car owners ignore this problem only for their engines to completely break down. Engine repair costs are no joke - they may climb as high as $3,000.

Sometimes, you may also see steam coming from under the hood.

If your engine keeps overheating, have your car inspected by a professional as soon as possible.

3. You can hear high-pitched noises

Like most failing car components, your water pump will produce unpleasant noises when it goes bad. These tend to come from around the engine area. They often point to damaged pulleys or water pump bearings. Unfortunately, you'll have to replace the pump in both cases.

4. You can see the coolant leaking

Although leaking is a rare symptom, it's not unheard of. Your water pump has several seals and gaskets that hold the coolant inside. When they become too loose, the fluid will start dripping out of the system. As a result, you may see pools of coolant form under your car. The fluid is usually green or red.

In some cases, simply tightening the seals and gaskets is enough to fix the problem. But if they're damaged, you'll have to replace the whole water pump.

How long will your water pump last?

Your water pump's lifespan depends on many factors. But in most cases, it should work fine without any replacement for at least 60,000 miles. In the best-case scenario, it will last for up to 100,000 miles. After this time, the aforementioned symptoms will become common.

Your vehicle's age also plays a part. If you've already gone through many replacements, each new pump will last for fewer and fewer miles.

The water pump you use is also an important factor to consider. While buying cheaper ones may be tempting, we don't recommend doing so. Though you'll pay a much lower price initially, you'll likely have to replace it every 30,000 miles. Thus, cheaper water pumps are actually more expensive in the long run.

Is replacing your water pump an easy DIY task or not?

Unfortunately, replacing your water pump is a very difficult task. This is because the exact repair procedure depends on your vehicle's model. Some models drive the water pump via the serpentine belt while others use the timing belt.

If your car uses the serpentine belt, the replacement shouldn't be too hard. The serpentine belt is easy to access, making the repairs much easier.

But that isn't the case with the timing belt. The timing belt sits deeper in the engine, which makes it much harder to reach. And even if you manage to remove the water pump, you may accidentally displace the timing belt. This will only lead to additional problems.

Unfortunately, most modern cars use the timing belt to drive the water pump. Since both components have similar longevities, most auto shops repair them together.

How long will it take you to replace your water pump?

Firstly, you should understand that repairing the water pump is no small feat. If you don't have much mechanical experience, you should leave it to a professional.

But assuming you do, it shouldn't take you more than two hours to replace your water pump. Of course, it depends on your model as well. More complicated ones may keep even a trained mechanic busy for a whole day.

How to repair a water pump?

If you're feeling brave, you can try to replace the water pump yourself. We've prepared the following guide that may help you handle each step. Just keep in mind this guide is intended for personal use and we're not responsible for the result you get. If you feel stuck at any point in the process, you might be better off calling a professional mechanic.

Here's how you can replace the water pump on your own:

• Let the engine cool down before you get to work.
• Find your vehicle's manufacturer's manual and consult it before you carry out each of the following steps.
• Remove the parts attached to your drive belt.
• Detach the hose from the water pump.
• Loosen the bolts on the water pump.
• Remove the body of your water pump from the vehicle.
• Remove all old seals and gaskets.
• Clean the mounting surface.
• Install the new water pump.
• Tighten the bolts. Make sure you don't overdo it. Otherwise, they'll snap.
• Reattach the hose to the water pump.
• Add your vehicle's recommended coolant to the water pump.
• Try to rotate the pump. If you installed the correctly, it should rotate freely.

How much will it cost you to replace your water pump?

Water pumps can be expensive, with prices ranging from $70 to $400. If you include labor costs, the replacement may cost between $400 to $800. While the labor costs may seem high compared to the price of the water pump, it's because of how difficult the task is. Most water pumps rely on the timing belt to function. This component is hard to reach, meaning the mechanics need to pay extra attention when replacing the part.

Our final thoughts on replacing a water pump

The water pump is a crucial but often overlooked part of your vehicle. It's responsible for keeping the coolant flowing between the engine and the radiator. Without it, the heat will build up and eventually damage your engine.

While you can drive your car with a bad water pump, we don't recommend it. An overheating engine is a serious issue that only worsens with time. Left unchecked, your engine will break down completely. This will lead to expenses worth thousands of dollars. Not to mention driving your vehicle in this condition is dangerous as well.

Apart from an overheating engine, you may also experience symptoms such as glowing dashboard lights, leaking coolant, and high-pitched whining noises. If these symptoms happen together, you probably have a faulty water pump.

Luckily, your water pump has a solid lifespan. If you maintain it properly, it should last for as many as 100,000 miles. After this time, you should be ready to replace it.

Replacing the water pump is a difficult task because it's often linked to the timing belt. Without the right knowledge, you'll likely do more harm than good.

Professional mechanics should be able to handle the repairs in under two hours. As for the costs, be ready to pay anywhere from $400 to $800.