How to tell if a car water pump needs replacement?

The core method to determine whether the car water pump needs to be replaced is to observe the working status of the water pump and the performance of the cooling system. If the water pump is found to be abnormal, such as water leakage, abnormal noise or abnormal temperature, it usually means that the water pump needs to be replaced.

First, it can be judged by observing the working status of the water pump. When the water pump is running, if water leakage, abnormal noise or abnormal resistance is found, these are all signs that there may be problems with the water pump. Especially the water leakage phenomenon, if the water pump is leaking, especially the external water leakage, this is usually caused by the aging of the water pump seal or the damage of the gasket, and it needs to be replaced in time. 

Secondly, it can be judged by observing the performance of the cooling system. If the coolant warning light is found to be on, or the temperature warning light is on, these all indicate that there may be problems with the cooling system. It may be that the water pump is damaged, causing the coolant to circulate poorly, which in turn causes the temperature to rise. 

Finally, some simple methods can also be used to assist in the judgment. For example, after parking overnight, you can place cardboard under the engine and check whether there is coolant leakage the next day. If green liquid (antifreeze) is found on the cardboard, it may be a leak in the water pump or other cooling system components. In addition, check the tightness of the water pump pulley. If it is loose, it may also need to be replaced.

By observing the working status of the water pump and the performance of the cooling system, combined with some simple detection methods, it is possible to effectively determine whether the car water pump needs to be replaced.