Will My Water Pump Problems Cause My Car to Run Hot?
There are at least a dozen reasons that a car may run hotter than normal and even overheat. A faulty water pump could cause problems with the cooling system, resulting in a car running too hot. Typically located in front of the engine, the water pump is supposed to be working whenever the engine is running.
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The Cooling System
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Engines run hot, and a liquid mixture called coolant removes some of the heat from the engine when a car is working properly. Fans assist the water pump in moving coolant from the radiator to the engine and back to the radiator. As the liquid flows through the radiator, it decreases in temperature.
Moving Coolant
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Assisting the water pump in moving the coolant through the engine is a belt, either a fan belt (in older vehicles) or a timing belt (in newer vehicles). The water pump cannot run if either of these belts are broken, resulting in overheating.
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Overheating
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Additionally, coolant must be moving in order for it to work. If there is a problem with the water pump interfering with the movement of coolant, the engine will increase in temperature and quickly overheat.
Additional Signs
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If a car is overheating and the water pump is a suspect, check for additional signs. Indicators include a leak (check for fluid under the car or directly under the pump) and a "coolant smell" inside the car when driving.
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References
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Comments
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My radiator was competely dry after learning my temperature guage went completely hot - before all that though I could hear what sounded like a plastic cup tumbling around under my dash - I think that was the impellor! $1,000+ later (after radiator being replaced) discovered it was in fact the water pump..argh.
