Water pump

ANSWER : Driving or running the engine without the water pump working to circulate the coolant through the motor will cause the motor to overheat and may damage the engine costing thousands of dollars versus using a tow truck to take the vehicle to the shop that will cost a lot less. I would not recommend running the engine more than a few minutes at a time or you will overheat it.

ANSWER : Hello. You can just replace the water pump in this case. Although, the cost of just the timing belt is fairly negligible in comparison to the total labor of the job. My estimator says the water pump is a 6.5 hour job. Multiply that by whatever the shop rate is and you have the total labor without parts. You end up saving about $100 or less on parts if you only replace the pump.

The deciding factor will be the condition of the timing belt. If it has problems, you won’t be saving yourself any money by reusing it. In addition, there are seals and pulleys that may need to be replaced as well.

Assuming all the related parts were replaced the first time around, there isn’t a reason you can’t reuse them. I would say you should weigh the savings of reusing them against the actual condition of the parts. This is best determined after a complete disassembly. Keep in mind, time estimates will vary a bit depending on many factors. Either way, the labor is the largest cost.

If you would like to have the water pump replaced, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to perform this service at your convenience.

ANSWER : Hi there:

Trying to diagnose an overheating issue remotely is incredibly difficult. However, there are three things you can do to attempt to solve this issue. First, remove the water pump, verify it’s the right replacement part and reinstall with new gaskets. Second, flush the radiator coolant fully, as the issue could be caused by an obstruction inside the heater core or other coolant lines. Third, make sure to check all electrical connections to the radiator sensors and components. If you check and complete all three of those tasks, and you still have overheating problems, contact a professional mobile mechanic to complete a car is overheating inspection.

ANSWER : Hi there – I suspect your radiator is clogged or otherwise corroded so that it is not shedding heat as efficiently as it should. Idling with the heater on was getting rid of heat without loading the radiator. When you’re driving, the engine is generating more heat than both the heater and radiator can get rid of. Checking the difference between hot coolant going to the radiator (top hose), and going back into the engine (bottom hose) may show that there is very little temperature difference. This means the radiator is not doing it’s job, and need to be professionally cleaned or replaced. Good diagnostic effort on your part to avoid the obvious "it’s another Northstar head gasket" diagnosis! For confirmation, I would recommend an overheating inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

ANSWER : Hello there, 45,000 miles is a short lifespan for a water pump on your 2000 Honda Odyssey. There are a few reasons the water pump will need to be replaced, such as a pump bearing failure, water pump seal leak, or rust/contamination damaging the pump. Faults such as rust or particles in the cooling system are formed in the cooling system over time and the parts break down, or regular coolant flushes are not performed. These particles can cause the pump to fail prematurely. It would be a good idea to ask why the water pump needs to be replaced or take note of any symptoms you are experiencing with the car before moving forward with this. If you would like to have an expert give you a second opinion on this, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to inspect the car and replace the water pump if necessary.

ANSWER : Anytime there is no or low coolant in a vehicle, it can be very harmful to the engine. Low coolant can cause a seized engine or a blown head gasket.

It is recommended that you have the vehicle towed to a location to have the cooling system repaired. If you can, refill the engine with coolant, and if the fluid does not run out as quickly as you put it in, then you may be able to drive a short distance to a safe location, but it is not recommended.

If you need assistance, get a mobile mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect and determine the source of the leak, and replace the water pump, if needed.

ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. There is no reason to replace the water pump every time the belt is changed, unless the pump itself is damaged or not working properly. The belt may show signs of wear which is fairly common between 80k-100k miles. I would not recommend putting the belt service off as this can cause major damage if the belt were to snap. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to inspect your belts to determine when and if they would need to be replaced, while at the same time inspecting your water pump and cooling system to be sure there are no issues with it.

ANSWER : I never recommend using a "fix-in-a-can" or a "stop leak," as this can add sludge to your engine. You may just have a faulty gasket for the water pump or even a faulty water pump. In either scenario, the valve cover and timing covers have to be removed to determine the cause of the leak. It may be a simple gasket problem or an issue with installation. I would definitely not recommend using stop leak as it will sludge your engine.

I would recommend a pressure test and a visual inspection of the leak once the covers are removed.