Generally, and this is an average, the water pump will last about 60,000 miles to 90,000 miles. Once the water pump gets too old, it will go out. JTR Repair is going to list the signs of water pump failure below. This will help you determine whether your vehicle’s water pump has died. Bring your vehicle to our shop as soon as possible if you suspect there is a water pump problem. The sooner we fix the problem the less you damage your engine.
Coolant Leaks
One common thing that happens in older water pumps is they start to leak. The water pump will leak coolant onto your garage floor if the leak is severe enough. You may see spots or puddles underneath your engine toward the front and near the center. This is an indication that either the water pump is leaking or the radiator is leaking.
Corroded Pump
You won’t always get the above warning, however. Sometimes, water pumps develop small leaks that only cause corrosion around the pumps. In other words, if you take a look at your water pump, you will see the engine coolant corroding the pump. You won’t, however, have coolant spots on your garage floor. Corrosion still means your water pump is leaking.
Overheating Engine
Naturally, if your water pump is leaking engine coolant, your engine will overheat. Another reason why the engine will overheat is if the water pump dies and no longer circulates coolant through the engine, but more on that below. Regardless, it isn’t safe to drive your automobile if it is overheating. Continuing to drive it can cause severe engine damage.
Uncirculated Coolant
The thermostat is responsible for releasing the engine coolant once it needs it. Once the thermostat releases the coolant, the water pump circulates it through the engine. It uses the accessory belt to do this. If there is something wrong with the water pump or the accessory belt, you won’t have any circulated coolant, and, as a consequence, your engine will overheat.
Whining Sounds
If the problem lies with the accessory belt, you may hear it making whining sounds when you first start your automobile. This whining noise may increase as you pick up speed. Whether the accessory belt or another problem, you shouldn’t hear whining sounds coming from your engine. If you do, stop by our shop so we can find the source of the noise.
JTR Repair in Crawfordsville, IN, is your one-stop auto service shop for all of your automotive needs. We can test your water pump to see if it has gone bad and replace it if necessary.