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Ford F-150: How to Replace Your Water Pump

Save a lot of money when your water pump goes bad in your Ford F-150 and do it yourself.

By James Karuga - October 29, 2014

This article applies to the Ford F-150 (2004-2014).

What is a water pump? When burning fuel, your Ford F-150's engine heats up to produce motion. To prevent your truck from overheating, your cooling system’s water pump circulates water and coolant to regulate temperature when the vehicle is in motion. But water and antifreeze leaks in the water pump cause damage to the engine.

Materials Needed

  • Socket and torque wrench
  • Sockets
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Gasket scraper
  • Water pump
  • Gasket sealant

Step 1 - Disconnect the battery

Figure 1. Disconnect the battery.

Unplug the negative (black) battery cable from the battery and drain the cooling system and remove the air cleaner assembly.

Step 2 - Remove the obstacles

Figure 2. Remove the radiator.

Unfasten the fan shroud bolts. Use a flat head screw driver to remove the radiator and the bypass and heater hoses. Using the screw driver, turn the hose clamp screw anti-clockwise until the clamp loosens. You will be able to locate the water pump on the engine front. Separate each hose from the water pump. For more detailed instructions on this step, see the related article below.

(Related Article: How to Fix Radiator Leak - Ford-trucks.com)

Step 3 - Remove the fan drive belt

Figure 3. Loosen the fan clutch.

Turn the bolts connecting the pump pulley to the water pump counterclockwise with a socket, socket wrench and extension with the fan belt in position. Loosen the fan clutch with wrench and rotate the fan, shroud and clutch assembly counterclockwise and carefully disentangle them from the pump. Then unmount the fan drive belt.

Step 4 - Remove water pump assembly

Figure 4. Remove water pump assembly.

Remove the alternator bracket bolts and power steering pump bracket from the water pump by turning them counterclockwise with socket and socket wrench. You will also need to remove the bolts and pulley connecting the water pump to the timing chain. Pull out the water pump assembly from the engine block.

Step 5 - Scrape off the old gasket

Figure 5. Scrape off the old gasket from the engine block.

Scrape the engine block where the water pump was with a gasket removing scraper to clean the surface. To replace the water pump, spread a gasket sealer on the water pump mounting surface on the water pump back side and on all mounting bolts.

Step 6 - Install the new water pump

Figure 6. Install water pump.

Place the water pump gasket on the water pump and align the bolt holes with the pump and gasket. Mount the water pump onto the engine block, and fasten the pump bolts by hand in clockwise motion and use a socket and torque wrench to tighten them.

Step 7 - Place parts back in

Figure 7. Place everything back in.

Replace alternator brackets, power steering pump, brackets, radiator, and heater and bypass hoses in that order. Then fasten the hose clamp screws in clockwise motion with the screwdriver for tightening. Then install the fan shroud, fan pulley and spacer and fan. Then mount the fan drive belt with specified tension and tighten the alternator bracket.

Step 8 - Fill the cooling system
Figure 8. Fill with coolant.

Fill the cooling system with the specified amount of water and antifreeze and connect the negative battery cable to the vehicle's battery.

Pro Tip

Ford F-150 owners in forums argue for replacing the fan clutch when the water fan is replaced because the two share a rotating axis. This is because an out of balance clutch can destroy a new pump.

Featured Video: How to Install/Replace Water Pump

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