Car Service Land Coupons for Oil change, Tires, Wheel alignment, Brakes, Maintenance
A car water pump is a key component that keeps your car’s engine cool. It usually stays buried under the timing belt. So, you might not have seen it in person. But its role in keeping the engine’s cooling system working efficiently cannot be undermined.
It continuously pumps coolant to the car’s engine, preventing it from overheating in the process. Without it, your car’s engine can get completely ruined, which should explain how important this car component is. Sometimes, the engine damage can be so extensive that it may lead to a very expensive repair.
Therefore, you should get the water pump repair or replaced right away to avoid serious damage to the car’s engine. To know much how much a water pump replacement will cost you, we suggest that you keep reading.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Water Pump?
As expected, a water pump for a Ferrari will cost more than what you would pay for your regular car. So, it’s hard to tell how much you will be charged unless we know the exact make and model of your vehicle. But then, we can provide you with a rough estimate of the cost.
Generally speaking, you should set aside a budget of anywhere between $150 to $1500 for water pump replacement, including labor.
| Auto Center | Price |
|---|---|
| Mr. Tire | $350-$1300 |
| Walmart | $150 – $400 |
| Midas | $275-$1100 |
| Your Mechanic | $500-$1500 |
Of course, the lower price range is for your ‘everyday cars,’ and the higher price range is for high-end cars. Not to mention that the labor rates also fluctuate based on the type of vehicle you own. In some vehicles, the installation of a new water pump can take no more than an hour.
On the other hand, some cars can demand almost half a day. These factors should explain the huge price difference for water pump replacement from one car model to another.
How Far Can You Drive Without a Functional Water Pump?
The answer is; ‘not very far.’ This is simply because a non-functional water pump can cause the engine to overheat. And, you can’t really tell how long an engine can survive at a boiling temperature. Sometimes, it could be a matter of a few minutes before things turn really bad.
Therefore, it’s advisable to get the faulty water pump replaced at the earliest. The good news is that it’s not too difficult to articulate this issue.
There are many symptoms (discussed below) that will signal you of a non-functional water pump, allowing you to replace the water pump at the earliest possible stages of damage.
Symptoms of a Bad Water Pump
Though most of the modern water pumps come with a long lifespan (50,000 to 90,000 miles), it doesn’t mean that they are indestructible. Like any other automobile parts, they can wear out with use/age.
Let’s look at some of the prominent symptoms of a bad water pump:
- Unusual Sounds: If you hear bizarre noises coming from your water pump, it could be an indication of a faulty water pump.
- Coolant Leaks: If you notice green liquid on the floor all the time where your car is parked, it may be a symptom of a bad water pump.
- Smoke/Steam: A damaged engine can emit smoke/steam, which can be a possible sign of water pump failure.
- Overheating: As hinted earlier, your car’s engine will overheat if the water pump turns bad because it will fail to keep the internal temperature down.
How to Replace the Car’s Water Pump?
- You will begin by turning off the car’s engine, and wait for the engine to cool down completely.
- Then, you will open the valve of the radiator to drain all the water from the system. Of course, place a pan beneath to trap all the water.
- You won’t proceed to the next step until all the water is completely drained out. Next, you will loosen the alternator.
- This will allow you to remove the drive belts attached to the water pump. Once the drive belts are removed, you will gain easy access to the water pump.
- Then, you will loosen the car’s water pump from its mounts and remove the engine pulley fans.
- The next step would be to disconnect the hoses attached to the water pump. Then, loosen all the bolts and screws that are holding it in its place.
- Once the old water pump is removed, you can replace it with the new one. Finally, attach all the bolts and screws back to where they belong.
Important Pointer: It’s advisable to take this opportunity to attend to other car parts as well, such as the tensioners, cambelt, oil pump, etc. because these car parts are already exposed at the time of repair.
Car Water Pump Replacement Price: How to Save Money?
Replacing a water pump is not really a DIY project because of the fact that the water pump is situated quite deep in the car’s engine. This is to say that you can’t even access it unless you have certain mechanical knowledge.
Therefore, you shouldn’t try to save money on labor costs.
But then, you can attempt to save money by shopping for the part yourself. For those who don’t know, water pumps are easily available online these days at cost-effective prices. You can supply the required part yourself to the car technician.
Of course, have a word about this with the car technician to make sure that he agrees to you supplying the replacement part.