If you drive an older import, there will come a time sooner rather than later when the water pump will need to be replaced. Uptown Imports advises that the average lifespan of a factory water pump is approximately 10 years or 100,000 miles. We are going to list the signs of the faulty water pump below so you know what to look for in your import. It’s important to replace the water pump as soon as possible because it is the part that is responsible for moving the coolant throughout the engine.
Pump Corrosion
You can always check your water pump to see if it is corroded. Your owner’s manual should have an engine diagram and the pump is located in the front of the engine. If you see corrosion on the water pump, it is time to replace it because it is leaking slowly. This corrosion will eat through the pump and cause an even bigger leak if you don’t have the pump replaced.
Leaking Coolant
The bigger coolant leak is going to leave coolant on the garage floor. This will also reduce the level of coolant in the engine and you may notice that the engine will run hotter than normal. We recommend that you have any coolant leaks fixed right away because you do not want to drive your import with a hot engine. Doing so can damage crucial parts including the cylinder block.
Poor Circulation
Because the water pump is responsible for moving the coolant through the engine, you may end up with poor coolant circulation if the pump is going bad. This is going to cause the engine’s temperature to rise while you are driving the import. Again, do not drive the import if the engine is overheating.
Grinding Noises
A faulty water pump may also start to make grinding noises in the engine. This is a sign that the water pump is wearing out from the inside. Unfortunately, there’s no way to repair a grinding water pump. Rather, we will need to replace the pump. In some cases, the sound may also mimic growling.
Overheating Engine
Finally, all of the above can make your engine overheat every time that you drive your import. As we mentioned above, continuing to operate the vehicle with a hot engine can damage the cylinder block. It can also blow the head gasket or crack the exhaust manifold.
Uptown Imports in Minneapolis, MN, would be happy to help, so call us today to schedule a service visit for your import.