Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Water Pump Failure

About 6 weeks ago, I purchased a rebuilt water pump from Advance Auto Parts chain. This was the type with the white impellers. Upon getting in my car this morning, I noticed water underneath my car. I popped the hood and found the the coolant resevoir was empty! Filled it up and started the car to check where the leak was. Well the leak was from the water pump!!!

I took off the pump and exchanged it under warranty for a new one (black impellers) that they had in stock for no additional charge. Put this unit on and so far there are no leaks.

I am quite surprised that this water pump failed after only 6 weeks!

Sheessh!

Bob T.

Black impeller, danger Will Robinson! Start your 60k miles clock ..... now. Nowhere to get a metal one? The first rebuilt pump you got was probably fubar enough that the rebuild they did wasn't enough to keep it from self destructing.

Both NAPA and AutoZone carry WPs w/ metal impellers. Highly suggest you get one, and if not, as PA said, plan on swapping it in 60k.

/me is off to b1tch at Demon for Advanced not having a decent WP in stock

But then again, 60k miles is 60k miles, quite a long time.

JB

Ahem...

Demon has defected from Advance to Autozone...

They wanted me to have more money and I wasn't about to tell them no. (They actually called me about the manager position)

Plus it's closer to my house so it's half the commute which means more time with the wife & kids during the week... (which is always good in my book)

Oh yeah...

NEVER EVER buy a reman'd water pump! Just not worth it.
You get stuck with a used casing they put an aftermarket bearing into (the cheapest they can get) and either milled or got close enough to round to work. The impellar is original too (in most cases - Duratecs obviously are not) and retains all the wear of the previous user or users. In the case of the Duratec it's gets the cheapest impellar available (which obvious is the black one Ford used :rolleyes: or maybe worse! )

My tech tip for the day...

Your leak has nothing to do with the color or material of the impeller.Most after market pumps have a 'cheap' type of seal and its the seal that has let go...better pumps,including the OEM, dispite what is said about it, use a ceramic type of shaft seal which has a far better durability...