Your automobile’s water pump is responsible for circulating the coolant through the engine to prevent it from overheating. On average, a water pump will last about 100,000 miles. After that, you may find yourself in a predicament that can only be resolved by a new water pump. Central Auto Care can inspect your water pump to see if it is going bad. Here are four signs that it is failing.
1. Overheating
Naturally, your automobile will overheat if the water pump cannot circulate the coolant through the engine. You may notice that your car, truck, or utility vehicle is getting hotter and hotter every single time you drive it. You may not see any other signs of trouble, such as low coolant levels or coolant leaks. If this is the case, it’s likely that your water pump has failed or the thermostat is malfunctioning.
2. Leaking Coolant
Over the years, the water pump corrodes and rusts. The same holds true for the radiator. If you drive an older car, it’s possible that your pump has rusted through and you’ll notice coolant leaking from the front of your engine in the center. The combination of the low coolant and the failing water pump will make your engine overheat. These two signs together definitely point to a cooling system problem.
3. Cold Air
If you turn on the heater and only cold air blows through the vents, this is a sign that the pump is not circulating coolant to the heater core. It can also be a sign of a heater core problem, so it’s important to let a professional set of eyes inspect your automobile to get to the bottom of it. Cold air blowing through the vents indicates that the hot coolant is not flowing through the heater core tubes.
4. Growling
Growling that is coming from your engine rather than your stomach or your canine companion indicates that there is something wrong with the water pump bearing assembly. You may also hear whining. Please understand that these sounds can indicate any number of things going wrong underneath the hood, so it’s crucial that you get the source of the sounds diagnosed right away to avoid damaging your engine further.
We’ve got you covered here at Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB. We’ll inspect your pump to see if it is the part that is failing. If it isn’t, we’ll inspect your cooling system to ensure everything is okay with it, as well. No matter what the problem is, we can fix it.