How to Change a Water Pump in a 1998 Dodge

When replacing a water pump on a 1998 Dodge or any other vehicle, remove the parts in sequence. Pay strict attention to how the parts are removed. Keep all bolts and nuts separated as you remove them. Have all your tools and parts to do the job on hand. Be sure to always be on a level place, and if you use a jack, use jack stands with it. Disable any electrical equipment, such as the ignition switch; be sure it is off. Keep any liquids, such as antifreeze, away from children and pets; antifreeze is poison.

Instructions

Raise the hood and remove the negative battery cable end. Drain the antifreeze from the radiator; the drain plug is located at the bottom of the radiator. If the antifreeze is rusty or more than a couple years old, dispose of it properly and replace it.

Remove the bolts in the fan shroud and lean the shroud toward the engine. This will give access to the fan and fan clutch. Remove the fan bolts, the fan, and the shroud out together. The fan clutch should always be laid face down to prevent damage.

Remove any other parts as needed to access the water pump. These would include the fan belt, alternator, power steering pump and air-conditioning compressor. It is not necessary to remove the hoses or wiring on these parts; just move them out of the way. Remove the heater hose and bypass hose that are connected to the water pump. Remove any hose fittings that thread into the water pump.

Take out the water pump attaching bolts and note their lengths and where they come out of the water pump. Remove the water pump from the engine. If the water pump doesn't come off easily, don't force it. Check to be sure all the mounting bolts have been removed. Remove the pump and clean off the old gasket from the mounting surface of the engine. Clean all the bolts and check the threads to be sure they're not stripped or too rusty to be reused.

Apply a thin coat of gasket sealer to the mounting surface. Place the gasket on the mounting surface, making sure the bolt holes are aligned. Apply a thin coat of sealer on the outside of the gasket. Replace the threaded fittings for the heater hose and bypass hose. Place the water pump up to the mounting surface, replace the mounting bolts in the appropriate holes and tighten them. Torque the water pump bolts to 30 foot-pounds.

Remount any parts you may have had to remove to gain access to the water pump, such as the power steering, alternator and air-condition compressor. Put a new hose clamp on the bypass hose and tighten. Spin the water pump to be sure the propeller doesn't rub against any thing. Put a new O-ring on the heater-coolant return tube. Replace the return-coolant tube and mounting bolt to the engine . Be sure the slot in the tube is turned to the bottom of the mounting bolt. This will properly position the return-tube-connect heater hose and clamp.

Connect the lower radiator hose and new clamp and tighten with a screwdriver. Install the water pump pulley. Place a shroud in the engine compartment and lean it back toward the engine. Replace the fan clutch and fan as a complete unit and replace the mounting bolts. Torque the bolts to 20 foot-pounds. Relax tension on the automatic belt tensioner and replace the serpentine drive belt; the belt must be routed correctly. If is not, the engine may overheat because the water pump is rotating in the wrong direction. Check that the belt-routing guide is on the inner-fender passenger side of the car.

Replace the radiator shroud and mounting bolts. Tighten with a socket and ratchet. Fill the radiator with new antifreeze. Use a 50-50 mixture, being sure to turn off the petcock in the bottom of the radiator. Double-check all bolts and hose connections to ensure there are no leaks. Connect the negative battery cable. Start and warm up the engine to operating temperature. Double-check for leaks.