Ford XL5Z-8501-AA Pump Assembly - Water

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After replacing the water pump, you should refill the cooling system and check the drive belt tension. Run the engine and inspect for leaks.

To check the water pump's operation, keep in mind that it's driven by the accessory drive belt and a failure can lead to severe engine damage due to overheating. There are two methods to assess the water pump's condition while it's still installed in the engine. Check for leaks by inspecting the weep or vent holes on the water pump for coolant leakage; a flashlight may be necessary to locate these holes. If the water pump shaft bearings are faulty, you might hear a howling sound from the front of the engine while it's running, and shaft wear can be felt by rocking the water pump pulley up and down. Ensure that you don't mistake drive belt slippage, which causes a squealing sound, for water pump bearing failure.For the replacement procedure, follow these steps: Disconnect the negative battery cable and drain the cooling system. Remove the drive belt and the bolts securing the water pump pulley. Then, remove the bolts holding the water pump to the engine block, and carefully pull the water pump straight out from the block. Lubricate the O-ring seal on the new water pump with Merpol or equivalent before installation, which involves reversing the removal steps, ensuring that all fasteners are tightened to the specified torque. Finally, refill the cooling system. For models other than 2001 and later 2.3L engines, disconnect the negative battery cable, drain the cooling system, and remove the cooling fan and shroud. Then, remove the drive belt, pulley, and hoses from the water pump, and proceed to remove the water pump from the engine. Clean the bolt threads and threaded holes in the engine, compare the new pump to the old one, and remove old gasket material. Clean the engine and new water pump gasket mating surfaces with lacquer thinner or acetone. Apply RTV sealant to the engine side of the new gasket and the gasket mating surface of the new pump, then attach the pump and gasket to the engine, threading the bolts in finger-tight. Install the remaining bolts, tighten them evenly in 1/4-turn increments, and reinstall any removed parts. Finally, refill the cooling system and check the drive belt tension before running the engine and checking for leaks.