A water pump pulley is a pulley attached to the water pump system in a car to connect it with the timing belt . The timing belt wraps around a number of pulleys in the engine compartment to control the function of accessory systems in the vehicle. ... It controls the timing of many key engine functions.
How much does it cost to replace a water pump pulley?
The average water pump replacement cost is $550 , with prices ranging from $461 to $638 in the US in 2020. But typically depends on the type of vehicle you drive and the auto repair shop you take it to. Labor costs are between $256 and $324 while parts cost between $205 and $314.
How do you know if your water pump pulley is bad?
- Physical damage to the water pump pulley. The most obvious sign that a problem exists with your water pump pulley is if it's physically damaged. ...
- Extensive wear on the water pump or serpentine belt. ...
- Grinding sound from the front of your car. ...
- Engine overheats.
Can I drive with a bad water pump pulley?
The coolant is no longer circulating properly through the car. Heating and cooling may be affected by the vehicle. The car may begin to overheat as well. It is possible to drive your vehicle without a water pump, but not good to .
What does a failing water pump pulley sound like?
Whining or Groaning Noise
A whining or groaning noise usually means that either a drive belt is loose, or the water pump pulley is bad. It may surprise your customer that a pulley could fail, but it does occasionally happen. Pulleys have been known to fail due to rust, which can cause cracking between their bolt holes.
What noise does a bad pulley make?
When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises . If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise.
What causes a water pump to go bad?
Contaminated coolant, non-compatible coolant, or mixing coolants of different chemistries leads to premature water pump failure. Harmful contamination is common in systems that are not properly maintained. ... The coolant should be entirely replaced with the correct vehicle manufacturer's recommended coolant.
Does a water pump come with a pulley?
Water pump pulleys are designed to be driven by a drive belt or serpentine belt. Without a pulley, a water pump will not rotate unless it is driven by the timing belt, timing chain, or an electric motor. There are two types of pulleys used to drive an engine's water pump: V-groove pulley.
How do I know if I need a water pump?
- Leaking Coolant. A coolant leak coming from the front and center is probably coming from the water pump. ...
- Rust and Corrosion. Age doesn't work in the water pump's favor, either, when it comes to rust and corrosion. ...
- Whining Noises. ...
- Overheating Engine. ...
- Radiator Steam.
How hard is it to replace a water pump?
While removing the pump is not difficult , you must have experience removing and replacing timing belts and their various components. It takes just as much work to get down to the timing belt as it does the water pump, therefore you should plan on replacing the belt at the same time.
Should a water pump pulley have play?
The water pump pulley should not have much “play” in it at all . Any side to side movement would indicate wear in the shaft bushing and likely be a leak at some point in the near future.
How long can I drive with a leaking water pump?
If you have a minor water pump leak, you might be able to drive it for a couple of miles , but it's also not recommended. Some customers indicated that it was OK to drive the vehicle for a week, while others mentioned they could drive the car for about 2000 miles without any issue.
Does a bad water pump always make a noise?
A whining or groaning noise usually means that either a drive belt is loose, or the water pump pulley is bad . ... Worn belts, or worn belt tensioners, can cause a belt to be loose. This can result in the water pump not turning as fast as it should, and then the engine overheats.
Will a bad water pump make a knocking noise?
Will a water pump make a knocking noise? There is nothing really to knock in a water pump . Look around the front of the engine to see if a bolt/bracket has come loose and is causing this sound. Knocking sounds are NEVER good.
How much does it cost to replace a pulley?
Idler Pulley Replacement Cost
The cost to replace the idler pulley of your driver belt will usually be somewhere between $80 and $200 . The cost for the new part should only be anywhere from $40 to $90, while the cost of the labor will be anywhere from $40 to $110.
What does it sound like when a serpentine belt goes bad?
Although there are a few causes of a squealing engine, one of the most common is a bad or failing serpentine belt. ... Belt squeaking is also especially pronounced when accelerating, on startup, and when making a U-turn. The noise is loud and sounds like a squeal, loud chirp, or squeak .
