If your car, truck, or utility vehicle is having any of the problems listed below, it’s possible that the water pump has gone bad and needs to be replaced. Generally, CAR FIX advises that a water pump lasts about 100,000 miles. If you drive an older automobile with a ton of miles on the odometer, the water pump is going to go bad sooner rather than later. Here are signs that it has.
Rust on the Water Pump
If you take a look at the water pump and see corrosion on the housing, the water pump has developed a slow leak and is releasing coolant all over itself. Unfortunately, there’s no way to repair the slow leak. Rather, we must replace the leaking water pump to ensure you always have the optimal level of coolant in your engine and a water pump that is not being damaged by rust.
Coolant Leaking on the Garage Floor
In severe cases, the water pump may begin to leak coolant onto the garage floor. It’s a bad idea to drive your automobile when it is leaking coolant because the engine will overheat. Again, repairing a leaking water pump is something that cannot be done, so, consequently, we will need to replace the water pump instead. We can do that at one of our four auto service shops in Tennessee.
Low or No Coolant Circulation
Another sign that your water pump is not operating as it should be is very little or no coolant circulation through the engine. If you suspect that the coolant isn’t circulating through the engine because it is overheating frequently, bring your vehicle to our shop so we can assess the coolant circulation. If, indeed, the pump is no longer circulating the coolant, we will replace it.
Grinding Noises in the Engine
A dying water pump will often make grinding noises in your engine. This is a sign that the pump’s internal mechanisms have worn down and are grinding against each other. If you hear grinding noises in the engine, bring your vehicle to our shop right away.
A Serious Overheating Problem
Finally, and as you can imagine, a faulty water pump will make your engine overheat every time you drive your automobile. Unfortunately, this can be due to low coolant levels from a water pump leak or the fact that the water pump is not circulating the coolant through the engine.
CAR FIX has four auto service shops in Tennessee: Crossville, Cookeville, Oak Ridge, and Maryville. Call the shop closest to you to schedule an appointment for a water pump test.
