2006-07-13 17:16:02 · 8 answers · asked by jane doe 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
They can just break yes. They MAY show signs of leaking before they go out, but they don't have to. Usually the signs are internal, so you would never see them. That is until it "just breaks."
2006-07-13 17:21:00 · answer #1 · answered by jffrwlnd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time a water pump will leak and give some warning but not always.There is a small hole located on the bottom side of the pump called a 'weep hole' that can start to drip water when the pump is going bad. But as I said this is not always the case.At the first sign of a coolant leak or a noise coming from your engine it,s always best to get it checked before it becomes more serious or leaves you stranded.
2006-07-14 00:30:12 · answer #2 · answered by Iknowthisone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you mean by "break". If you mean suddenly and without warning, detonating with pieces and parts flying everywhere................yes it's a possibility. I had a friend that was involved in a very serious accident because his water pump suddenly flew apart. Typically they will begin to leak from a what is called a "weep hole" in the bottom side of the pump. That is exactly what the hole is designed for. To indicate when the pump is beginning to wear to point of needing to be replaced. Sometimes you will hear the sound of a bearing going bad, such as a grinding or whining noise, but usually indicated by the drip sized leak. Good luck.
2006-07-14 00:24:48 · answer #3 · answered by rsqur 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never seen a water pump just break. Unless it was hit with a hammer or something, I did see one guy break the mounting flange hole while installing a pump.
I Have had them leak, squeal, vibrate, screech, howl.
Usually the pump will start dripping coolant from the bearing seal at the front of the pump, behind the pulley of course, where you can't see it directly.
I really never saw one break.
They however, can fail pretty suddenly.
Yours: Grumpy
2006-07-14 00:21:05 · answer #4 · answered by Grumpy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it will start to leak but sometimes the bearing will go out without warning. Usually the tension on the belt will be eliminated when the pump shifts after the bearing flies apart. Good luck.
2006-07-14 00:21:32 · answer #5 · answered by jeff s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are usually signs. My water pump started leaking slowly, but I caught it before it broke.
2006-07-14 00:19:32 · answer #6 · answered by Kristina B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They pretty much just break. Sometimes you'll hear a grindy whine first if the bearing starts going out.
2006-07-14 00:19:37 · answer #7 · answered by Dagblastit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sometimes they show signs of over heating and sometimes they just break down
2006-07-14 01:45:30 · answer #8 · answered by trisomy11q 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋