The water pump inside your vehicle has a very important job when it comes to ensuring that the engine stays cool while your car is running. The water pump circulates coolant to the engine, keeping it at the right temperature to prevent overheating. The good news is, most water pumps will last the entire lifetime of your vehicle. However, it isn't uncommon for a bearing to go bad or for a leak to develop which will require a water pump replacement in order to avoid major damage to your car.
If your water pump does need to be replaced, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Leaking antifreeze
- Faint grinding noise coming from the engine
- Engine overheating or high temperature gauge
- Water leaking from engine
The symptoms above are some of the tell-tale signs that your water pump is bad and needs to be replaced. In some vehicles, the water pump is actually located next to the timing belt, and therefore will often be replaced with the timing belt. This saves you time and money on labor since they are in the same general area. Timing belts typically need to be replaced every 60,000 miles or so, or as recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer.
If you're wondering how often you should replace your water pump, we invite you into our auto repair shop for a thorough inspection and analysis. We can check for leaks and perform a road test to see if there are any signs of cooling system or engine problems. We can also look at your car's manufacturer recommendations when it comes to this service and see if you're due or will be due soon.
For water pump replacement, bring your car into Space Center Automotive of Clear Lake today!