#Coolant leaking from water pump pulley how to#
#Coolant leaking from water pump pulley cracked#

In a working system, the seals and the gasket work to ensure the easy flow of coolant to the engine from the radiator. Leaking coolant usually occurs when the gasket and other important seals have worn out or are damaged. Coolant Leaks From the Front Center of the Vehicle This usually means that the water pump is faulty. The temperature gauge will start acting abnormally with its needle running back and forth. You use it to check if the engine’s cooling system is working.īecause of a faulty water pump, the temperature gauge isn’t allowed to do its work properly. The temperature gauge keeps the temperature of the engine in check. The result is always an overheating engine. However, if the water pump is faulty, it will not do its job which is cooling off the engine. The engine should ideally operate at a specific temperature at all times to prevent damage. You should allow the engine to cool off before doing anything This is a very serious problem and you shouldn’t attempt to restart the engine. Both these colors could indicate that your vehicle has a bad water pump. The smoke could either be white or dark in color. Smoking often signifies that there is damage to the engine and the pump’s fan isn’t working properly. Steam or smoke coming from the radiatorĪ common sign of a bad water pump is steam or smoke gushing from the radiator. The signs of a bad water pump include: 1. These signs will tell you that it’s time to get your car in an auto repair shop and have it replaced. The water pump is an important part of the engine ecosystem and if it fails, there are bound to be some noticeable signs.

#Coolant leaking from water pump pulley how to#

How To Tell If Your Water Pump Is Failing? You will also get an answer on whether a bad water pump will prevent you from driving your car or not. Keep reading to understand the importance of a water pump in your vehicle and how to know when it’s time for a change. It pumps the coolant through the hoses into the radiator and the engine block to keep the engine cool for it to operate properly. It controls how the coolant flows around the engine keeping its temperature at optimal levels. Depending on a few factors, you can probably drive your vehicle 5-20 miles with a faulty water pump, which should be enough to get you to the nearest mechanic to replace it.Ī water pump is vital to a car’s cooling system. If your car’s water pump is bad, you need to get it replaced quickly or you’ll risk damaging your engine. So you may find yourself wondering now whether or not it’s ok to drive your car with a bad water pump and, if so, for how long? However, it’s understandable if you have no choice and need those few extra miles before getting the water pump fixed.

#Coolant leaking from water pump pulley cracked#

CARspec recommends the drive belt also be replaced if it is cracked for a small additional charge (no extra labor, as the belt has to be removed anyway).There is no reason why you should want to drive a car with a faulty part let alone a water pump. CARspec stocks everything needed to perform the repair and the service takes less than 2 hours. Unlike some other water pumps or coolant leaks, the repair isn’t terribly expensive – $319 using a Toyota genuine pump and new Toyota genuine coolant, labor included.

Replacing the water pump is common enough on the 2001-2009 Prius that most will need one in their lifetime. Sometimes the pump requires replacement, other times monitoring the coolant level is the best option.

Similar to other water pump failures, the coolant leak is easily identified by red or pink residue just below the water pump pulley. Unlike the 2010+ Prius, the water pump is driven by a belt run off of the crank pulley (the 2010+ has an electric water pump). The 2001-2009 Prius equipped with the 1NZ-FXE is prone to a leaking water pump, resulting in coolant loss and potential engine damage due to overheating.