Water Pump Restrictor Plate

[99SE]

I'm interested in changing mine soon but can someone take a picture of the housing and the waterpump seperate from each other. I just want to see the difference and what each part is before I go and do some surgery on my car. Thanks

[Andy W.]

You can only put it back together one way and it's rather obvious. Make sure you know where the 3 long bolts go. Read the FAQ and get a CD for your car.
-Andy

[99SE]

If I go to an Automotive store and tell them that I want a w/p for my car, does the housing come with it? I'm definitely going to check to see if it has the metal impellar

[morbid]

I don't think there have been any occurances of the later model white platic impellers failing. You can go to a local store and they'll be able to look up the w/p for you... but it's just the w/p (w/o housing). That'll run you about $70. Or, you could get the kit: w/p, housing, and both primary hoses (everything already assembled)...... from Bill J for about $70.

When I replaced my w/p the first time.... I wish I just got the kit. With gasket maker and a gasket, I still had a persistent minor leak.

[Aspenmeteor]

Ok i just replaced my WP not to long ago!

Questions

1. So when my car sits for more than a day and i start it up there is a rattle sound for 2 seconds then it quits. This could be that metal ring that also fell out of my WP? That sound was driving my crasey!

2. If i had over filled my coolant tank by 1 inch would it lead to the weap on my WP to leak.

Thanks and i hope you can help me clear things up!

[Big Jim]

I have not heard your car but I doubt it.

Most likely the water pump wouldn't make much noise as the impeller is plastic. I didn't hear any noise on mine when I found the plate loose. It would help if you stuck a listening device on the water pump when the car is making noise. A stethiscope, long screwdriver with one end on the pump and the other to your ear, a length of hose held to the pump and the other to your ear.

More likely you have some timing chain rattle. An oil filter with a silicon anti -drain back valve may solve the problem, or a new filter, even the ones with the good anti-drain back valve can leak down sometimes. The timing chain has a hydraulic (actually two, one for each bank) timing chain tensioner. If it leaks down, the timing chain ratles from looseness for a moment until oil pressure builds up. It is also possible that the tensioners have failed or the tensioner guides have worn, but that isn't common. The noise will be on the opposie side of the engine from the water pump.

You didn't tell us what year your car is. It makes it difficult to answer your questions if we have to guess. If your car is a 95, it is more prone to timing chain tensioner failure. The design was improved for 96.

[Tony2005]

.... If i had over filled my coolant tank by 1 inch would it lead to the weap on my WP to leak.
...

No. We are supposed to overfill it at least 0.5 inch (or the coolant light comes on for no apparent reason). If the WP leaks, it is because wrong gasket material was used or bolts were not torque to spec.

[Aspenmeteor]

I have a 2000 Ford contour svt. 90,000 miles on it i do use a OEM motorcraft oil filter for oil and motorcraft 5-30 during the winter!

I do race auto-x (might have somthing to do with it) with it and i dont notice the sound untill i start it up after it sits for a wile. I will try to isolate the sound here in a few days and get back to you guy's

Also what is the torque spec on the water pump bolts? My new water pump did not come with them so i snuged them down to like 12-15 f/lbs

[Big Jim]

Your description sounds even more like oil filter leak down allowing for some timing chain rattle. Ford claims that a little timing chain rattle at start up is harmless, just annoying.

[tropictour]

Your description sounds even more like oil filter leak down allowing for some timing chain rattle. Ford claims that a little timing chain rattle at start up is harmless, just annoying.

Ive tried just about every filter (K&N, Mobil 1, Motorcraft etc.) and I still have the rattle on cold start-up.
-tropictour