When can you be sure when a water pump is going bad?

[dud]

The car: 2007 Honda Civic 1.8L with 37K miles

The backstage story: Found one drop of coolant on garage floor about 3 years ago. Found another drop in November. The Civic 1.8L is under voluntary recall for lower block cracking, causing coolant loss which requires engine replacement. Took car to dealer last week. Asked service advisor to check two things: recall on airbags and for possible engine cracking. Advisor came back 45 minutes later and informed me that the airbags are not covered by recal, that the block is fine but that the coolant came from the water pump weep hole and it needs replacement. The cost? About $600.


Question: I've owned the car for over 7 years and noticed two drops of coolant loss. I have filled the overflow tank once with a cup of water. I have an OEM electronic service manual which states that if (during diagnosis) you turn the water pump pulley counter-clockwise you may see a drop of coolant at the weep hole ... this is normal. The pump makes no adverse noises whatsoever.


I'm looking for opinions here. From what you know is this water pump going bad? What would you do?

 

[jlee]

It's possible, but a drop every three years isn't bad (though really it shouldn't be leaking any fluids at all, ever). I'd clean/dry it and check it in a week and see if it's wet again.

 

[slag]

If its not leaking or making noises don't replace it. You should be able to get a camera phone or mirror up near the weep hole and see if it is in fact weeping. If it is, replace it, if not, don't worry about it. Sometimes when the coolant comes out the weep hole, it will evaporate or boil off before it actually drips on the floor but since you've only put a cup of water in the overflow tank, that seems relatively normal.

 

[yoda5]

If there's no weird noises and the fan isn't wobbling when running (you can also try jiggling it a bit when the engine is shut off and make sure it's tight) then it sounds okay to me. With that low of miles I wouldn't be too worried.

 

[Wingznut]

If there's no weird noises and the fan isn't wobbling when running (you can also try jiggling it a bit when the engine is shut off and make sure it's tight) then it sounds okay to me. With that low of miles I wouldn't be too worried.

Of course... A Civic will have an electric fan, not one attached to the water pump.

 

[boomerang]

You could look at it from another perspective. It's a small leak, it's probably leaking a little worse than an occasional drop because engine heat, especially while driving is evaporating it. It's going to require replacement at some point. So, some questions to ask yourself:

Are you going to keep the car?
Do you like being stranded and/or having to have to call a tow truck?
Will the repair get cheaper as the car gets older?

I'm big on preventative maintenance. Not everybody is.

 

[thedarkwolf]

A leaking water pump won't strand you.

Let me add since I'm sure somebody will argue with me. Even a bad water pump leak isn't that hard to keep up with as long as you keep an eye on the temp gauge and add more water when needed. You can make it home.

 

[boomerang]

A leaking water pump won't strand you.

It will if you ignore the white smoke billowing out the back and ignore your gauges. Which is exactly what one of my wife's friends did. She didn't exactly ignore it, she gambled that she could make it to the next exit. She didn't. Cost her a replacement engine.

 

[jlee]

A leaking water pump won't strand you.

Let me add since I'm sure somebody will argue with me. Even a bad water pump leak isn't that hard to keep up with as long as you keep an eye on the temp gauge and add more water when needed. You can make it home.

Until it grenades inside and stops pumping water.

You'll overheat quickly. D:

 

[Jimzz]

A leaking water pump won't strand you.

Let me add since I'm sure somebody will argue with me. Even a bad water pump leak isn't that hard to keep up with as long as you keep an eye on the temp gauge and add more water when needed. You can make it home.

Just to add what others have said I have seen pumps come apart and throw the belt.
So they not only can they leave you stranded for many different reasons, they can also do other damage to the vehicle.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Yeah but that is extremely rare and you would usually have a ton of warning before it got to that point. I'm not saying to keep driving a car with badly leaking pump for a year lol. I'm saying if it starts leaking badly you can make it home without calling a tow truck.

If the pump totally fails and maybe takes out the power steering, a/c, or even the alternator you still can probably make it home. Won't be fast since you would have to pull over and cool the engine a lot but you can make it.

 

[boomerang]

Just to add what others have said I have seen pumps come apart and throw the belt.
So they not only can they leave you stranded for many different reasons, they can also do other damage to the vehicle.

Thank you.

The human trait of arguing for the sake of arguing has always perplexed me. If it's broke, fix it. Why roll the dice and hope for the best? Seems dumb.

 

[thedarkwolf]

The op says he has added a cup CUP of water once. We don't even really know if the pump is bad and if it is very slowly starting to go it isn't going to bring the collapse of society down upon us. Keep an eye on it is all I'm saying rather than just putting $600 in the car without really knowing if anything is wrong.

 

[dud]

You could look at it from another perspective. It's a small leak, it's probably leaking a little worse than an occasional drop because engine heat, especially while driving is evaporating it. It's going to require replacement at some point. So, some questions to ask yourself:

Are you going to keep the car?
Do you like being stranded and/or having to have to call a tow truck?
Will the repair get cheaper as the car gets older?

I'm big on preventative maintenance. Not everybody is.

I too am big on PM, which is why I purchased an OEM water pump (AISIN) just in case it requires replacement. I asked the question originally because I believe that the current WP is OK but wanted to hear other opinions. I just completed a MT fluid replacement and was going to refresh the coolant (at $20 a gallon . . . Thanks Honda). When the dealer diagnosed the WP as bad. Based upon advice provided within this thread I've decided to go ahead and do some comprehensive coolant system PM including new WP, coolant, hoses, thermostat. The car is driven by the wife and want her to feel confident in it. Now I just have to find 4 plus hours to do the job. Replacing the WP requires one to remove the alternator, serpentine and tensioner before you start WP removal. Hose and coolant replacement will prob take another hour.

Anyone ever done this type of work on an 8th gen Civic before? My main concern is the small amount of clearance available to do most of this work on the passenger side of the engine.

Thanks!

 

[Yuriman]

It's a tight fit but it can be done. I ended up pulling off all of the mud covers, putting blocks under the engine and taking the mount off, but after that it wasn't too bad.

 

[tortillasoup]

OP, you should be aware there is a recall on the cooling system for your generation honda civic.

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mech...at/117426-recall-water-pump-pulley-bolts.html


http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mech...ecall-2006-maybe-2007-civic-water-pump-2.html

 

[dud]

OP, you should be aware there is a recall on the cooling system for your generation honda civic.

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mech...at/117426-recall-water-pump-pulley-bolts.html


http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mech...ecall-2006-maybe-2007-civic-water-pump-2.html

Appreciate you bringing that up. I never received a notice on the recall and the car has been to the dealer a few times over the years. I guess our VIN is not covered ... but I will check anyway. Thanks ...


Update, just checked on all outstanding recalls: Year: 2007 Make: Honda Model: Civic Sedan. Number of Open Recalls: 0


Thanks again for bringing that to my attention!

 

[Jimzz]

Appreciate you bringing that up. I never received a notice on the recall and the car has been to the dealer a few times over the years. I guess our VIN is not covered ... but I will check anyway. Thanks ...


Update, just checked on all outstanding recalls: Year: 2007 Make: Honda Model: Civic Sedan. Number of Open Recalls: 0


Thanks again for bringing that to my attention!

Call the dealer and give them the VIN. They may have something.

 

[skyking]

You already have the pump so this is just general information in a current water pump thread.
My truck weeps about a cup every two years at the pump weep hole. It never gets anywhere, just evaporates right there.
The big concern is bearing/shaft failure. You can diagnose the bearing with a long socket extension or piece of dowel, etc.
Find a clear path to the bearing area, this works for any component like the water pump, AC compressor, serpentine idlers, alternator, etc.
With the engine idling, place the socket extension or rod firmly and securely against the target area, avoiding the moving belts.
Place your head against the rod end just in front of your ear. You can hear the bearing clearly.
The alternator is usually the noisiest bearing in the car and makes a great reference noise

 

[leper84]

Yeah but that is extremely rare and you would usually have a ton of warning before it got to that point. I'm not saying to keep driving a car with badly leaking pump for a year lol. I'm saying if it starts leaking badly you can make it home without calling a tow truck.

If the pump totally fails and maybe takes out the power steering, a/c, or even the alternator you still can probably make it home. Won't be fast since you would have to pull over and cool the engine a lot but you can make it.

Keep fighting the good fight buddy. People like you make my paychecks.

 

[dud]

You already have the pump so this is just general information in a current water pump thread.
My truck weeps about a cup every two years at the pump weep hole. It never gets anywhere, just evaporates right there.
The big concern is bearing/shaft failure. You can diagnose the bearing with a long socket extension or piece of dowel, etc.
Find a clear path to the bearing area, this works for any component like the water pump, AC compressor, serpentine idlers, alternator, etc.
With the engine idling, place the socket extension or rod firmly and securely against the target area, avoiding the moving belts.
Place your head against the rod end just in front of your ear. You can hear the bearing clearly.
The alternator is usually the noisiest bearing in the car and makes a great reference noise

Very good idea. I could also purchase a stethoscope to listen in. The problem with doing any of this is that there is very little room to do anything by the water pump. Just to get to it I have to remove the drive belt, remove the alternator, remove the WP pulley and then remove the tensioner.

Then I get to remove/replace the WP. I've already decided to do it, along with the upper and lower radiator hoses AND thermostat. I'm just trying to find the time ...

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Water pump, coolant, hoses, thermostat = good and sane preventative maintenance in a 7 year old car.

 

[skyking]

I tossed that out for general consumption. the stick/socket extension works very well in comparison to a stethoscope.

 

[tamm]

why dont you get a second opinion? Try another dealer if possible. the manual says if you turn the pump counter clockwise it should weep. \

also are you saying you did that procedure in your manual and found a drop or are you trying to pull some random fact from your manual to justify the drop of coolant you found?