Steam billowing from the front of the vehicle while it’s moving or stopped can also indicate overheating. Note that the temperature gauge in some vehicles won’t move off center until engine temperatures have already reached dangerous levels, so be cautious if you notice the needle rise past its normal operating temperature position. This is usually indicated by an engine temperature warning light (or an icon with wavy lines in it) or elevated engine temperature reading on the dashboard.Ī functional water pump cools down the engine by circulating coolant, so a bad water pump will allow engine heat to build up to unsafe levels.
The most obvious symptom of a faulty water pump is an overheated engine. Understanding how water pumps work to cool your vehicle is important, though it’s even more critical to know the signs of a failing or broken water pump in order to promptly address the issue. Symptoms of a Bad Water PumpĪn overheated engine can quickly lead to engine failure, a very costly consequence. When this process is doesn’t function as it’s supposed to, overheating will occur. It then flows into the radiator and back into the water pump, completing the cycle thousands of times a minute. This fluid is propelled by the pump blades, or vanes, into the cylinder head and engine block. The crankshaft drives the water pump’s impeller which circulates coolant through the engine, much like a heart pumps blood.
When the engine of the vehicle is running, coolant from the radiator is brought into the center of the water pump.