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When Should You Replace Water Pump?

4134 Views 11 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  RWeaver
Our car, 97 taurus 3.0, has 105,000 mile on it! It's my wifes car, she works for USPS and delivers mail in it. I was wondering when should the water pump be replaced? How many miles do they last!

Or just wait till it goes!
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I know mine lasted about 70k miles before it gave out. It started making this squeeling/scratching noise (bearings) and one day i flicked on the defrosted and the car took a crap. Threw the belt, overheated, and eventually got towed. If you have a free weekend and have any doubts about it, might as well just change it.
Welcome to the TCCA.

The gen 3 Taurus/Sable (96-99) came with two different 3L engines: the OHV 12V Vulcan and the DOHC 24V Duratec. I just replaced the pump on my 96 Duratec at 100,000 miles. Two signs to replace a water pump are: 1) it starts making noise and 2) it starts leaking fluid (or both.) In either case the bearing is wearing out.

Although you could replace it ahead of time because it is old, the same could be said for the rest of the 150,000 mile parts
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1) it starts making noise and 2) it starts leaking fluid (or both.) In either case the bearing is wearing out.[/b]
Would you please describe this noise for me? Yesterday I heard a tock-tock-tock, very regular, not too loud kind of noise.

I was cleaning the TB and when the car warmed up I heard that kind of noise.
Mine is a Gen2, water pump lasted 93k miles. It too started making a squeeling/whining sound. The louder it gets, the closer it is to totally seizing (like mine did
)
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I'm just going to put a new water pump on anyway! Its not leaking or making noise, but better safe than sorry. Plus, i wanted to change anti freeze and etc..so might as well do it. That liquid gold isn't cheap (anti-freeze)
mine actually just went on my 95 Gl with the vulcan engine. I drove it until it blew, though I have (and had) it schedueled to go in to get if fixed....u could hear it going...

edit:i have 130 000 KM on it
Originally posted by Mexjames@Apr 19 2004, 12:14 PM
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1) it starts making noise and 2) it starts leaking fluid (or both.) In either case the bearing is wearing out.
Would you please describe this noise for me? Yesterday I heard a tock-tock-tock, very regular, not too loud kind of noise.

I was cleaning the TB and when the car warmed up I heard that kind of noise. [/b][/quote]
the tick tick tick is probably detonation. It is very common with the vulcan engine.

I have 83k on my 97, and the pump is fine. I HAVE had to replace the resevior, though. cracked and leaked everywhere. Be sure to flush the coolant system every other year or so - the acoolant gets brown pretty quickly.
i replaced mine at 129,000 miles however i should have replaced hoses at the same time. one split 5 days after new pump was put on so i lost antifreeze and car got hot before getting fixed.
I am currently shoppig for one. I hear a whinning noise I cant tell if it is the PS of the water pump going bad. I dont want to be stranded so I am going to replace it soon.


James
Just wait till it blows
Who needs a water pump anyways.

And by the way I am J/K.
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I'm just going to put a new water pump on anyway! Its not leaking or making noise, but better safe than sorry. Plus, i wanted to change anti freeze and etc..so might as well do it. That liquid gold isn't cheap (anti-freeze)[/b]
If you're gonna do that just as PM (preventitive maintenance) then I'd highly recommend replacing every belt and hose under the hood [heater hoses, bypass hose(s) included], the thermostat, and the temp sensor.

If those hoses have been on from the factory, messing with them may weaken them when you pull them off the water pump. My experience has been -- apx. 2 months after a water pump job, one of the hoses pops. Plus, I'd like to be able to run my '92 coast-to-coast with little notice. I for one use the PM approach.
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Just wait till it blows  Who needs a water pump anyways.[/b]
Hehehehehe.... I like that!

I zipped past a sign on I-70 west bound, at Green River Utah that read "NEXT SERVICES 110 MILES." Think about that! Worried? Hehehehehe... Not I
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