A Driver’s Guide to Water Pump Replacement

The water pump in your vehicle keeps the engine at a consistent temperature by moving water back and forth between the radiator and engine. As water passes through the engine, it heats up. It cools down after returning to the radiator, and the process repeats constantly to prevent your engine from overheating.

• Your temperature warning light or gauge indicates that the engine is overheating.
• You notice your car leaking coolant. Your vehicle may have a light to warn you when the coolant gets low, or you may see drips or a small puddle of fluid under your normal spot in the garage or driveway. Coolant is most often orange or green in color and has a distinct sweet smell.
• You hear noise from under the hood while the engine is running.
• The heat from your heater does not feel sufficiently warm, or worse, just blows cool air.

All of the above are obvious signs that something is wrong, so you should take immediate action. If you let your water pump fail, the engine will overheat, leading to expensive repairs. Lori and Angie at Master Auto Repair of Webster Groves give top priority to customers who find themselves in an emergency situation like this. Give us a call  and we will take care of you.

As with everything related to vehicle maintenance and repairs, the cost of replacing a water pump is important to most drivers. On average, water pump replacement can range from $300 to $750 or more. Where you fall in this range largely depends on the design of your engine. Some water pumps are hard to get to and require more labor to replace. A defective water pump cannot be repaired, it must be replaced with a new one.

It is a common practice to also replace the vehicle’s thermostat when doing a water pump replacement. It is not always needed, but if you suspect that your engine got hot when the water pump failed, it’s a good idea to take care of it. The thermostat is an inexpensive, yet very important component that can be damaged by excessive heat.

If the engine has already overheated, there may be additional damage that could raise the cost of your repair significantly. Early detection and immediate action are paramount to keeping these repairs financially manageable.

The water pump is one component in a complex system that carries liquid coolant/antifreeze. These man-made chemicals are effective when it comes to regulating the temperature of your engine, but they can also be hard on everything they touch. That’s part of the reason it’s so important to dispose of all of your vehicle’s fluids properly.

• Your vehicle’s engine turns a belt, which rotates the water pump’s “axle”.
• As that axle turns, so do a series of vanes that are connected to it.
• All of this motion creates suction to bring water in from the radiator.
• Centrifugal force splashes water all throughout the water pump and into the engine block.
• The water flows through precision-machined passageways to deliver cooling throughout the engine block.
• Finally, the water goes back to the radiator to restart the process from the beginning.

The repairs could involve other related components in the engine cooling system like gaskets, pulleys, bearings, or belts.

Absolutely, unless your engine has significant damage from overheating. If your vehicle is in good shape and you plan to keep it on the road for a while, it is crucial that you get the water pump replaced as soon as possible in order to prevent much greater damage.

Rest assured, we will advise you properly when you’re making the decision whether to move forward with a repair that feels unmanageable, or if you wonder if the vehicle is worth the investment. Our job is helping you make smart decisions about your vehicle.

Lori and Angie will help you weigh the costs of water pump replacement against a new car sticker price, sales tax, personal property tax, costlier insurance, and other expenses. If you’re still unsure what you should do, go straight to the masters at Master Auto Repair for their expert opinion. Angie and Lori have a lot of experience from years of helping others in the Webster Groves – Affton – Crestwood area and will be able to offer sound advice

Master Auto Repair of Webster Groves is your local shop for water pump repair service in St. Louis, MO. You can count on Angie and Lori for an honest, professional opinion about all of your options.