7 Signs Of A Bad Water Pump – How do you know if your water pump is going bad? 

Many of the internal components of your vehicle tell you that they will fail soon, even before they fail. 

The water pump is an essential component of your vehicle as it controls the flow of the coolant around the engine to maintain the specified range of temperature. Over time of use, the water pumpkin we are out and require installing a new water pump.

While you can drive your vehicle with a bad water pump, if you don't take quick action and fix it, you will end up with your engine self destructed due to overheating here 

In this article, we will start with a quick overview of the different water pumps in vehicles, along with their critical role. Then, we will provide you with the 7 signs of a bad water pump. Furthermore, We will provide you with an estimated cost for repairing your water pump based on customers' rough estimates. Finally,  we will answer the most frequently asked questions about issues with your vehicle's water pump. 

What is the water pump, and what does it do?

 

In any vehicle, the engine must be within a specific range of temperature that is specified by the vehicle owner's manual. To maintain the acceptable temperature range, I could want must flow around the engine to cool it down as temperature rises. 

The water pump is responsible for maintaining the property coolant flow around the engine. If the water pump goes bad, come on, your engine will not maintain the required operating temperature, will not run smoothly, will never take you anywhere you need to travel. 

Water pump problems are very significant and can result in complete engine failure. Therefore, it is important to understand the early signs of water pump issues to avoid high repair costs required for fixing significant engine problems. 

Even if your vehicle is new, the water pump can go bad at some point. Like any other mechanical component, the water pump will experience tear and wear over time of use, and it will require replacement. 

7 signs of a bad water pump 

 

As we mentioned earlier, to keep your engine from overheating and self-destruction, you must ensure that there are no problems with your water pump. One of the best ways to confirm that your water pump doesn't have any problem is to keep an eye for signs of a bad water pump.

Many of your vehicle internal components let you know that they are going to fail before they do, and the water pump is one of the best examples.

In this section come out, we will provide you with the top 10 signs of a bad water pump as reported by automobile experts. 

 

 

• Your coolant will start leaking at the front of your vehicle

 

 

If you notice any liquid leaking from your vehicle, you must take action and not ignore it. This is because the problem could be related to severe issues with your vehicle, and the vehicle must be taken to a professional mechanic as soon as possible.

One of the different types of fluids in your vehicle is the coolant. The coolant might leak if the pomp's components dry up, crack, break, or wear out over time of use. 

To confirm that it's your vehicle's coolant, you can check the color of the fluid puddle under your vehicle. If the fluid is green or sometimes red, it is your vehicle's coolant. If that's the case, you must take your vehicle to a professional mechanic as soon as possible to inspect the water pump. 

 

• You will start hearing a whining sounds with the issues with the water pump pulley 

 

 

Another sign of a faulty water pump is hearing a whining sound coming out of your motor. In general, any weird sounds coming from your vehicle indicates internal problems that might be inspected and fixed immediately. 

The sounds type can indicate where the problems are coming from. For example, if you started hearing high pitched sounds like whining or buzzing, this indicates an issue with your water pump.

The water pumps pulley might become loose over time of use, which could cause this whining sound. Another reason for the whining sound could be a worn bearing. Unfortunately, if the water pump bearing wears out, there is no way you can repair this water pump, and you must install a new part. 

 

• Your engine's temperature will rise significantly

 

 

Since the water pump's job is to maintain a continuous coolant flow around the engine to cool it down, a completely failed water pump could result in engine destruction. If you noticed that the temperature gauge is indicating a significant increase in the engine's temperature, it's an issue with your water pump.

Engine overheating is a type of problem that must be treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might sacrify your vehicle's engine and be dealing with high repair costs. 

 

• Steam will come out of your vehicle's alternator

 

 

If you notice that steam is coming out of your motor, this is an indication of severe engine overheating. It is never a great choice to drive with an overheated engine as you sacrify your vehicle's engine and cause it to destroy itself. 

As we mentioned earlier, if you notice any sign of engine overheating, you must pull over and contact a professional mechanic. In some cases, you might not even have the time to drive your vehicle to the repair shop and must tow it.

 

• Slow coolant leak would lead to pump rust 

 

 

In some situations, the coolant might start leaking slowly, and you will not be able to detect it by looking under the vehicle for a water puddle. In this case, look around the water pump and check for signs for pitting or cavitation, which was caused by the coolant leak. 

 

• You will see holes on the dry side of the water pump 

 

 

As your water well pump gets older, the outer seals start deteriorating and breaking apart. Then, when you look at the dry side of the water pump, you might see some holes indicating that the water pump is getting close to failure. Therefore, you must have your water pump inspected by brush, my mechanic, as soon as possible. 

 

• Your vehicle will start running on low coolant 

 

 

When the coolant leaks slowly, you will not have a failed pump immediately; however, the vehicle will start running on low coolant, and this is another bad situation that could lead to potential damages to your pump and engine. 

How much does it cost to replace a water pump? 

 

The cost of replacing a lot of comps varies by vehicle make, model, and year. In general, replacing the water pump costs between $50 and $100 on parts only; However, if you would like to include the labor cost, then expect to pay between $300 and $750.

If you're not aware of how mechanical repairs costs go, you need to know that for any mechanical repairs, the costs are divided between the parts cost and the labor cost.

Parts cost is usually the same anywhere you get your repairs done. However, labor costs vary significantly. For example, if you get your job done at a small repair shop, you expect to pay less than repairing your water pump at a dealership. 

While you might be saving a lot of money on labor cost if you go to a small report repair shop if your vehicle is luxury you might need to consider having a professional mechanic does the job for you.  In other words, if you go to the dealership or the original automaker of your vehicle, you will know for sure that they will be able to resolve the problem without causing any additional issues. On the other hand, if you go to a small repair shop, you will not know which mechanic will be doing the job, and you might be risking introducing new issues to your vehicle.

That does not mean that small repair shops don't have the required skill set, but the idea is that you need to keep in mind the possibility of introducing no issues, dear vehicle. 

 

Is it worth repairing my vehicle's water pump? 

 

Answering this question depends on several factors. It would help if you asked yourself a couple of questions before making any final decision. 

For example, does your vehicle have any other significant issues that need to be addressed? If that's the case, you might need to think about the total required repair costs, and if it's getting close to the worth of your vehicle or more.

The other thing you also need to think about is the total mileage on your car; if the car is at high mileage, then it's most likely getting closer to be dealing with significant problems, and it might not be even worth repairing it.

If you ended up deciding not to fix your vehicle's water pump, there are many options for you, including selling your vehicle as junk.

Luckily, cash car buyers provide the best assistance for you! At cash car buyers, we don't only pay the top dollars that your vehicle deserves, but also we provide free towing for all customers despite their living locations.

We buy all vehicles from old brands and model years; we buy wrecked, damaged, broken, or any unwanted vehicle.

All you need to do is to give us a call, receive our instant offer, accept it, get your vehicle removed within one to three days, and get you a cash payment right on the spot!

FAQ about signs of a bad water pump 

 

In this section, we will cover additional FAQs about the signs of a bad water pump.

 

• Can you drive a car with a bad water pump? 

 

 

While your car will still be drivable if you have a bad water pump, it is never recommended to drive your vehicle when your water pump fails. This is because the engine will start overheating, and it could get to a level of self-destruction. Therefore, even if it takes you some time and effort to get your water pump replaced, the time and effort are never comparable to what we will spend to install a new engine. 

 

• Can a water pump be bad without leaking? 

 

 

As you note in the signs, we indicated above, and the water pump can go bad without a coolant leak. For instance, the water pump deteriorates when the seals break apart, and you can see that or by looking for holes on the dry side of your water pump.

 

• What sound does a bad water pump make? 

 

 

The water pump can make weird sounds if the bearings go bad. These sounds include squeaking, grinding, or ticking, especially when the engine is running.

 

• Will a bad water pump rattle? 

 

 

The water pump can start rattling due to issues with the belt tensioners. Here it's the actual wrestling doesn't come from the water pump itself; it comes from these belt tensioners. 

 

• What causes a water pump to go bad?

 

 

Like any other vehicle mechanical components come up, the water pumps can get older and required placement. While the pump has a lifetime, some certain practices or factors could result in shortening the water pump's lifetime.

For example, a contaminated or improper coolant can result in damaging your water pump. Furthermore, is the water pump belt wears out or was improperly installed, it could also damage your water pump. 

 

• How long does it take to replace a water pump?

 

 

To replace your water pump, the process will take you about two to three hours. Keep in mind that this rough estimate assumes that you have the required skill sets of replacing your water pump, and it excludes the time you will be spending reading and training yourself on how to replace the water pump.