Let’s talk about your car’s water pump. This is the part in the cooling system that circulates the coolant through the engine. A water pump lasts, on average, about 100,000 miles or 10 years. There are specific signs that the water pump is going bad that you will notice once the pump fails. Mike’s Auto Service & Repair is going to list the signs of a faulty water pump below. Bring your vehicle to our shop at the first sign of trouble to avoid engine damage.
Gunk All Over the Pump
As the title of this blog post states, a leaking water pump needs to be replaced. One sign that the water pump is leaking is if there is gunk all over it. A corroded water pump has a slow leak that is pooling the coolant around the pump. Unfortunately, the coolant rests on the water pump and starts to eat through the pump’s metal. When this happens, you will end up with…
Coolant on the Garage Floor
Once the coolant starts leaking onto the garage floor, you have a serious water pump leak. The pump needs to be replaced right away because you will find it difficult to keep enough coolant in the engine to prevent it from overheating. Bring your vehicle to our shop so we can replace the leaking water pump. An overheating engine can become a damaged engine.
Poor Coolant Circulation
If you suspect that your water pump is going bad but don’t see any corrosion on it or coolant spots on the garage floor, bring your vehicle to our shop so we can test the coolant circulation. As we mentioned in the introduction, the water pump circulates the coolant through the engine. If it is going bad, the circulation will be poor or there will be no circulation at all.
Strange Noises in the Engine
The water pump may also start to make strange noises when it is going bad. You may hear a grinding sound coming from the engine, or you may hear a growling sound coming from the engine. The water pump is attached to the accessory belt for its power. If you hear squealing noises coming from the engine, there may be a problem with the accessory belt.
Overheating Constantly
Finally, if the water pump is leaking or unable to circulate the coolant through the engine, your car’s engine will overheat constantly. As we mentioned above, the overheating engine can get damaged quickly if the temperature rises above 220 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mike’s Auto Service & Repair in West Springfield, MA, is here to help, so call us today if you suspect your water pump is going bad.
