Water pump
The pump that pushes coolant through the engine and radiator so the engine does not overheat.
In plain English
The water pump keeps coolant, the liquid that carries heat away from the engine, moving in a loop between the engine and the radiator at the front of the car. It is turned by a belt or chain off the engine, which spins a small wheel with blades inside the pump that pushes the coolant along. A seal and a bearing let the shaft spin without letting coolant out. If the pump stops moving coolant, the heat stays in the engine.
Why it's on your estimate
A shop recommends a new water pump when it is leaking coolant from its seal or gasket, or when its bearing is worn and noisy. Signs include coolant drips or dried, crusty residue near the front of the engine, a coolant level that keeps dropping, a grinding, whining or squealing noise from that area, and a temperature gauge that climbs or steam from under the hood.
How urgent is it?
Don't wait
A failing water pump can let the engine overheat, and driving an overheating engine can cause severe damage. If the temperature gauge is climbing, a warning light is on, or you see steam, pull over safely and shut the engine off rather than driving on.
Questions to ask the shop
- Can you show me where the pump is leaking, or what test showed it has failed?
- Could the coolant loss be coming from a hose, the radiator, or the cap instead of the pump?
- Is the pump driven by the timing belt on my engine, and does anything else need to come off or be replaced at the same time?
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