How do I know if my water pump is broken???

Jimmydee · 11-04-2009, 11:21 AM

Hi,

I've been trying to diagnose an overheating problem on my MR2 but can't seem to work out what is causing it.

I drained the coolant system and sure enough there was air in the radiator I've sorted but I'm not sure if the root of the problem is the water pump giving up.

Having topped the system up (air free), I started the engine and let it run for a few minutes, but upon being nosey and having a look in the filler cap in the engine bay, I could see no circulation of the water.

Surely I'd be able to see it flowing through the filler neck as the water pump pushes it through?

Are there any (easy) ways of testing the water pump?

Thanks!

James

toyotaspeed90 · 11-04-2009, 03:31 PM

you have to wait for it to get up to operating temp... the water pump will be moving, but the water won't go anywhere until the thermostat opens

espguitarist33 · 11-14-2009, 12:54 AM

let me know how that test turns out

masagsxr · 11-14-2009, 05:40 AM

What toyotaspeed90 said...

+ you need to ask yourself when was it last changed? Any leaks anywhere? What was the noise and where is it coming from? There has got to be a hole somewhere and the radiator is not building pressure for the thermostat to open. Maybe you have a bad radiator cap? If you keep the car on idle with the radiator cap off, it will bound to overheat because the radiator does not build pressure for the thermostat to open which in turn, the hot air/water would come up.

Try replacing the radiator cap.

o6spdracer · 11-14-2009, 03:30 PM

^+1, you might want to check the thermostat as well if the the upper and lower hoses are not getting equally warm when its at normal operating temperature.

scottohno · 11-17-2009, 12:13 PM

^+1+1

yeah... what they said. thermostato. 15 pesos at auto dont.

11-04-2009, 11:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jimmydee No Skills Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Hastings Posts: 7 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	How do I know if my water pump is broken??? Hi, I've been trying to diagnose an overheating problem on my MR2 but can't seem to work out what is causing it. I drained the coolant system and sure enough there was air in the radiator I've sorted but I'm not sure if the root of the problem is the water pump giving up. Having topped the system up (air free), I started the engine and let it run for a few minutes, but upon being nosey and having a look in the filler cap in the engine bay, I could see no circulation of the water. Surely I'd be able to see it flowing through the filler neck as the water pump pushes it through? Are there any (easy) ways of testing the water pump? Thanks! James

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11-04-2009, 03:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 422 Thanks: 0 Thanked 32 Times in 32 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	you have to wait for it to get up to operating temp... the water pump will be moving, but the water won't go anywhere until the thermostat opens

11-14-2009, 12:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
espguitarist33 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: west chester PA Posts: 415 Thanks: 4 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	let me know how that test turns out

11-14-2009, 05:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
masagsxr Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 3,236 Thanks: 1 Thanked 76 Times in 76 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	What toyotaspeed90 said... + you need to ask yourself when was it last changed? Any leaks anywhere? What was the noise and where is it coming from? There has got to be a hole somewhere and the radiator is not building pressure for the thermostat to open. Maybe you have a bad radiator cap? If you keep the car on idle with the radiator cap off, it will bound to overheat because the radiator does not build pressure for the thermostat to open which in turn, the hot air/water would come up. Try replacing the radiator cap.

11-14-2009, 03:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
o6spdracer Nothing Clever Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,731 Thanks: 1 Thanked 96 Times in 91 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	^+1, you might want to check the thermostat as well if the the upper and lower hoses are not getting equally warm when its at normal operating temperature.

11-17-2009, 12:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
scottohno Cage Fighter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orland Park, IL Posts: 127 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	^+1+1 yeah... what they said. thermostato. 15 pesos at auto dont.