How to Remove a Water Pump in a Ford Taurus
by Jeffrey CaldwellThe Ford Taurus uses an electrical water pump to circulate engine coolant throughout the engine. The electric motor inside the pump can burn out, or the seals inside the pump may begin to leak, causing the Ford Taurus engine to overheat/ This can cause sever damage to the engine. The water pump should be replaced at the first sign of trouble.
Step 1
Disconnect the ground cable from the negative battery terminal by using a wrench to loosen the retaining bolt. Pull the clamp off the terminal.
Step 2
Locate the petcock valve on the lower right corner of the radiator. Place a waste oil collection pan underneath the valve. Open the valve by using a needle nose pilers to turn it counterclockwise. Once all the coolant has drained out close the petcock valve.
Step 3
Loosen the hose clamp that secures the inlet tube to the water pump and pull the tube off the pump.
Step 4
Insert a 1/2-inch drive breaker bar into the belt tensioner. Turn the breaker bar clockwise to release the tension on the belt and remove the belt.
Step 5
Loosen the hose clamp that secures the heater hose to the water pump and pull hose off the pump.
Step 6
Remove the bolts that secure the water pump to the engine block.
Step 7
Lift the water pump out of the engine and remove it from the vehicle.
References
- "Chilton Ford Taurus/Sable 1996 through 2005 Repair Manual;" Eric Mihalyi; 2007
Tips
- Take a picture or make a sketch of how the serpentine belt is installed on the engine before you remove it. It will help during reassembly.
Things You'll Need
- Wrench set
- Waste oil collection pan
- Needle-nose pliers
- Phillips screwdriver
- 1/2-inch breaker bar
- Socket set
Warnings
- The scent of antifreeze is highly attractive to household pets. It is also highly toxic. Keep small children and pets away from antifreeze.
- Be sure to wait until the engine is cool before draining the cooling system. Failure to do so could cause burns or scalding.
Writer Bio
Jeffrey Caldwell has been a freelance writer for over five months and has published over 250 articles on websites like eHow and Trails.com. Caldwell writes articles on a wide range of topics including travel, camping and automotive mechanics. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Millersville University.
