assessing/replacing water pump
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
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From: Phoenix, AZ
assessing/replacing water pump
Hi there,
I am preparing to replace the radiator in my '86 Ranger (manual, with AC) as it is cracked and leaking. Before deciding to do this myself I took the truck to a shop for a quote on the job - They told me that in addition to the radiator problem:
"The water pump is 'seeping' - could last months, could go next week" and that "the fan clutch is getting loose/has some play."
I'm a self-taught amateur when it comes to car repair - i'm pretty mechanical, and have replaced a starter motor, disc and drum brakes, an alternator, shocks and other minor-ish repair jobs on various vehicles I've owned and i'm pretty confident I can get the radiator changed myself, but what about the Water Pump??
Two Questions:
1. How do I assess the health of the pump and the alledged "Seepage" ?
(I'm skeptical of the "could last months, could go next week" line. It is an older truck, but lots of it has been rebuilt (Factory new engine and tranny, put in by Ford enthusiast I bought it from) and I don't know the history/age of the current pump
2. Is this something I should attempt myself? (without a lift etc..)
Thanks in advance for your help
Rachel
86 Ranger Super 2WD Manual, AC
I am preparing to replace the radiator in my '86 Ranger (manual, with AC) as it is cracked and leaking. Before deciding to do this myself I took the truck to a shop for a quote on the job - They told me that in addition to the radiator problem:
"The water pump is 'seeping' - could last months, could go next week" and that "the fan clutch is getting loose/has some play."
I'm a self-taught amateur when it comes to car repair - i'm pretty mechanical, and have replaced a starter motor, disc and drum brakes, an alternator, shocks and other minor-ish repair jobs on various vehicles I've owned and i'm pretty confident I can get the radiator changed myself, but what about the Water Pump??
Two Questions:
1. How do I assess the health of the pump and the alledged "Seepage" ?
(I'm skeptical of the "could last months, could go next week" line. It is an older truck, but lots of it has been rebuilt (Factory new engine and tranny, put in by Ford enthusiast I bought it from) and I don't know the history/age of the current pump
2. Is this something I should attempt myself? (without a lift etc..)
Thanks in advance for your help
Rachel
86 Ranger Super 2WD Manual, AC
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Hello britaz and Welcome to FTE!
You can easily replace the water pump. The hardest part will be removing the clutch fan. You may need a special tool to remove it or you can make your own. The threads on the fan clutch are a left hand thread.
The water pump has a weep hole on it and will have fluid discharging from it. It is usually located on the bottom of the pump.
The fan clutch can be checked be grabbing a blade and moving the fan forwards and backwards, any play is not good.
You don't need a lift, just a few tools and a afternoon.
You can easily replace the water pump. The hardest part will be removing the clutch fan. You may need a special tool to remove it or you can make your own. The threads on the fan clutch are a left hand thread.
The water pump has a weep hole on it and will have fluid discharging from it. It is usually located on the bottom of the pump.
The fan clutch can be checked be grabbing a blade and moving the fan forwards and backwards, any play is not good.
You don't need a lift, just a few tools and a afternoon.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Thanks for the advice - The new radiator is now in - (it was indeed one of the easiest jobs I've yet attempted), the fan didn't have any "wobble" at all, and I couldn't see any seepage in the waterpump either, so all is now well, all for the price of a radiator, instead of the $800+ the shop was proposing
Thanks again
Rachel
Thanks again
Rachel
