Howdy folks, pretty simple question for this forum, but this is the first time I'm diving head first under the hood of my Ranger. Its a 2002 with 56k miles, a 3.0 with an auto. I'm 99% sure the water pump is on its way out (intermittent squeaking/squealing increasing in volume and rapidity with increase in RPMs). I just wanted to see if that wasn't too unreasonable of a mileage for the water pump to go out and if ya'll have any caveats before I go for it.
My apprehension is because of my other car, a '69 Ford Falcon. The water pump went out, and so I tore it apart (great car to work on). But when I got in there I found out that someone replaced one of the original bolts with a hardware store bolt and it had snapped of inside the block. Bummer. I tried to get it out, no luck, so I admitted failure and took it to my mechanic. Well, he got it off, but had to pull the timing chain housing to get to it. Unfortunately, the timing chain housing had welded itself to the block over the years, so he had to air chisel it off, and when he got in there, the coating on my timing chain was disentigrating. Well, in the end, I went in to get a bolt replaced, and ended up with a new timing chain and housing and lost my car for quite a bit longer than expected.
Any tidbits of info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Water pumps have been known to go out around 60k miles or so.

 

When my 3.0 Taurus was making a racket, I found it by poking around with a short piece of garden hose/stethoscope.

Zero'd in on the idler pulley as the trouble maker. A new pulley from Napa & good to go.

 

At that 56-60K mark on my 'ol '99 3.0.. My idler pulley was causing my squeal. My Water Pump didn't go until about the 150K mark.

If you decide to get in there for the water pump it would be a wise idea to double check the Fan Clutch for signs that it maybe going out.

......What color(s) has your coolant been?

 

I also suggest check everything first. Use a screwdriver as a stethoscope, be careful with the fan though. I do see it being something else rather than the water pump.

RP
Zach

 

Idler & tensioner pulley bearings are a common sorce of squeeks & squeals.

Bad belt tensioner springs, oil or coolant on the belt or pulleys will cause it too & are common.

So it seems to me you need to do some listening as the guys have suggested & see if you can pinpoint the noise source, before throwing parts at the problem.

If your coolant system hasn't been serviced, now would be a good time to do it.

Let us know what you find.