water pump life
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: WI
water pump life
3.0l in 96 Taurus w/120K. How long can I expect the water pump to last? Am I in a window where I should replace it before it fails? Just wondering, hoping to get 200K out of this car and don't want to be stranded and pay someone to do this. Just replaced the serp belt and grabbed to pully for the pump and everything felt good, spun freely with no play.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 500
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From: laurel springs NJ
What does the antifreeze look like? If it is a brownish color, you may have some problems down the road. Evidently there was problems with the 3.0's making the internals "rot". Some sort of chemical incompatability.
I just replaced my water pump on my '97 Taurus, with 90K on the ododmeter. The only part of the impellor that was left was the backing plate for the impellor fins!!! Everything else was rotted away.
look back a few pages on this board. I remember a thread about this problem. Good discussion and some links to several fixes and repairs.
Gotta go...... boss is comin.........
I just replaced my water pump on my '97 Taurus, with 90K on the ododmeter. The only part of the impellor that was left was the backing plate for the impellor fins!!! Everything else was rotted away.
look back a few pages on this board. I remember a thread about this problem. Good discussion and some links to several fixes and repairs.
Gotta go...... boss is comin.........
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: WI
antifreeze is still green but does need changing. has gone in for recall work many yrs back and I do remember is was something with the antifreeze/cooling system because it used to be very brown.
planning on flushing the system and replacing the thermostat when it warms up a little more but just wondered if it was time to just replace the pump too.
Where you having problems w/ your pump that lead you to replace?
planning on flushing the system and replacing the thermostat when it warms up a little more but just wondered if it was time to just replace the pump too.
Where you having problems w/ your pump that lead you to replace?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,748
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From: Connecticut
Originally posted by reever
What does the antifreeze look like? If it is a brownish color, you may have some problems down the road. Evidently there was problems with the 3.0's making the internals "rot". Some sort of chemical incompatability.
I just replaced my water pump on my '97 Taurus, with 90K on the ododmeter. The only part of the impellor that was left was the backing plate for the impellor fins!!! Everything else was rotted away.
look back a few pages on this board. I remember a thread about this problem. Good discussion and some links to several fixes and repairs...
What does the antifreeze look like? If it is a brownish color, you may have some problems down the road. Evidently there was problems with the 3.0's making the internals "rot". Some sort of chemical incompatability.
I just replaced my water pump on my '97 Taurus, with 90K on the ododmeter. The only part of the impellor that was left was the backing plate for the impellor fins!!! Everything else was rotted away.
look back a few pages on this board. I remember a thread about this problem. Good discussion and some links to several fixes and repairs...
The '96-'99 Taurus and Sables cooling system design (but not the Ranger's) can indeed lead to a condition know as "brown coolant" which will destroy a Vulcan engine components and can seriously damage the engine.
There is a comprehensive TSB that Ford issued on problem that you should be aware of: Article No. 01-11-6
Although not specifically mentioned in the TSB, freeze plugs rusting and/or blowing out is another one of many ways in which the brown coolant problem can manifest itself in the 3.0L Vulcan, so you should look out for that as well.
And it was more than just a few cars that had these cooling system-related problems, too. Take a look:
http://www.cartrackers.com/Forums/live/Ford/132.html
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 500
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From: laurel springs NJ
My initial problem was a mysterious leak from somewhere up front. After some serious searching, I found the upper radiator hose was all dirty with rusty ant-freeze on the bottom side.
Replaced hose and clamps, but the problem persisted.
Talked to local Ford dealer parts/ service tech (awesome dealer, will help with any question/ problem. Greatest customer service I have ever had the pleasure dealing with) said that it was an "overpressure problem", check for coolant flow.
I wanted to change pump anyway so I pulled it off. As I stated above, no impellor on water pump. Replaced it with new pump, refilled anti-freeze. No more leaking at hose!!!!
I had replaced the Fill tank pressure cap also, prior to the water pump, with no change to my problem.
So, there is a new one, "Overpressure" to the system....
Replaced hose and clamps, but the problem persisted.
Talked to local Ford dealer parts/ service tech (awesome dealer, will help with any question/ problem. Greatest customer service I have ever had the pleasure dealing with) said that it was an "overpressure problem", check for coolant flow.
I wanted to change pump anyway so I pulled it off. As I stated above, no impellor on water pump. Replaced it with new pump, refilled anti-freeze. No more leaking at hose!!!!
I had replaced the Fill tank pressure cap also, prior to the water pump, with no change to my problem.
So, there is a new one, "Overpressure" to the system....
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Chambersburg, PA
Not to brag but I have a 98 Windstar with the 3.0 L (Vulcan) engine and I have not replaced the water pump or the serpentine belt yet and I have just reached 160,000 miles on it. The antifreeze has been changed twice in 6 years. Most of the mileage on this engine has been highway miles. It was a company car which I drove exclusively and it has been very troublefree other than the gas tank going bad. It warped and shorted out the fuel pump wiring. Had to be replaced by the Ford dealer to the tune of 750.00 parts and labor. Tank cost was 550.00 dollars and it was made out of some plastic material not steel. The mileage now being put on is a combinaton of city and highway driving. After reading your posts here I think the antifreeze should be dumped again and replaced with new stuff. Serpentine belt is not cracked yet, so I am going to leave it in. Pretty incredable considering the mileage. Other cars I have owned usually needed replacing around 60 to 70,000 miles.
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