What does a water pump do?
Your engine needs a constant flow of coolant entering the engine to prevent overheating. The water pump maintains this flow, allowing your engine to run at the correct temperature. The water pump pushes coolant from the radiator, through the engine and back into the radiator.
The water pump is usually located underneath your car’s timing belt, making it particularly difficult to access. Because of this, the water pump is often replaced alongside the timing belt as a preventative maintenance measure. This eliminates the potential labour costs of removing the surrounding components a second time when the water pump eventually fails.
Signs of a Damaged Water Pump:
A faulty or damaged water pump can cause serious damage to your engine if left unattended. This is due to insufficient amounts of coolant entering the engine, resulting in overheating. Fortunately, there are several common symptoms associated with a damaged water pump:
High engine temperatures
If your engine’s temperature gauge is reaching a high level, this means that your engine is overheating. When your water pump fails to provide the engine with the correct amount of coolant, the engine’s temperature will rise, causing damage to your engine’s expensive components.
In the event of your engine overheating, you should pull over to the side of the road as soon as you can, letting the engine reach a healthy temperature again. If the problem persists, you should get your car towed. The costs of towing your vehicle are far less than the costs of replacing an engine damaged by overheating.
There are several things that can cause an overheating engine besides a failing water pump. These include:
- Radiator leaks or damage.
- Clogged or ripped radiator hoses.
- Low coolant levels.
- Head gasket damage.
- A stuck thermostat.
Coolant Leaks
A worn or damaged water pump may leak, creating a puddle of coolant under your vehicle. This is generally due to gaskets or seals in your water pump cracking. If you notice a puddle forming near the front of your vehicle, it is likely to be a coolant leak caused by a faulty water pump or another component in your vehicle’s cooling system. If your engine has antifreeze in the coolant system a coolant leak from the water pump can be a bright coloured puddle on the ground underneath your engine. Colors are typically bright green, yellow, red, blue and other.
Please ensure your pets don’t drink this brightly coloured water (with anti freeze) as it is highly posionous.
If your vehicle is leaking coolant, we recommend that you avoid long trips and get your car examined by a qualified mechanic as soon as possible. This will prevent further damage to your engine.
Water Pump Replacement in Hamilton
Grimmer Motors offers reliable water pump replacement and repair work in Hamilton. If your vehicle has water pump or cooling system problems, our team of skilled, friendly and experienced mechanics are happy to diagnose and fix the issue.
For reliable, friendly vehicle services, contact Grimmer Motors today!