I have a 2009 Lexus ES with a bad water pump. The car has not been driven since the water pump has been causing issues. People in my household keep telling me to start the car while it’s been sitting with the bad pump. Should you start up a car with a failing water pump??
Why not just fix it and replace the pump... not hard.
I can’t replace the water pump as this car has it located underneath the alternator and everything. It would be a huge pain to open everything and put it all back together. But thanks for your response
Your welcome and good luck. I'd like to leave you with a philosophy I have told my kids for a couple decades and many others, "There's nothing hard, just things you haven't learned yet". Sometimes we are our own worst obstacle. You can also pay to have it done, it's worth putting that cost in it...imo. It won't be if it gets a damaged engine especially if it overheats and a head gasket goes....
alternator: slip off the belt, and undo 3 or 4 bolts?
Why start it?
Because the car has been sitting in the driveway and my mom keeps insisting on starting up the car and running it but I’m not taking the risk to start up the car as I don’t wanna cause another huge fortune
ok you're not really answering the question, but I get the feeling that your folks just want you to deal with the car.
I think you should oblige them, and either move the car out to the curb so it's not blocking the driveway. Or replace the pump ASAP.
You can start the car and run it for a few minutes. It won't hurt it at all.
I did answer you’re question as to why to start it but, thanks for the answer.
Depend on the kind of BAD we talkin about.....Is it a rattle like bearing noise..or worse vibration...as if it lost its bearings?
If the noise is subtle and is constant we can assume the bearings are worn and the seal is going bad. BUT in the event the pump shaft has some play..thats not a good situation as its possible shaft is going in a oblique circle and COULD dig into the engine block/front cover and gouge it...thus creating some unequal distance between the new pump impeller and the engine plate. That would create a loss of pump performance....Thats the worst comes to worst scenarion I have witnessed with some engine pump design. Jus' lettin you know...
Hey Dion,
Thanks so much for your response. The bad pump is causing a leakage of coolant where I’m having to pour coolant in the radiator constantly. My mechanic looked at it and the coolant leaked from the pump. The car is a family car and hasn’t been driven since this issue. I hope this helps but if you can possibly provide more info that would be great.
Thanks!
I gave the worst comes to worst scenario and we hope it never leads to that.. You should prepare for WAR...are you going to do the repairs yourself ? As @hillbilly said..it is not that complicated..its the INTIAL getting started seems to be the hardest thing...I myslf included...Oh I should know...LOL! But you can get it done. For the time being I would be making sure the battery is charged up with a trickle charger for this epic repair...maybe when the weather gets warmer ??
I see, but thanks again. I’ve never done such work before and especially with working on the Lexus I wouldn’t wanna take a risk with a job I’ve never done. It would also be nice if I can get tools as a gift.
It's alright some job can be complicated so bypass them.. Probably check locally and find out what the repair estimate would be intotal to get glance at what were..YOU are facing...Budget for that repair eventuality. I can think of a few instances when I started wrenching and got WAY OVER MY HEAD! We won't get into that as I think my mind blotted those images long ago. Yet I know they are there.....WE all started as novices just take it slow and easy...main thing is to absorb the technology and go from there. Hey maybe have a pot luck dinner inviting the neighbors for the WATER PUMP donation fund...eh ?
Where are you located Harry? Maybe we can recommend a good and economical mech for you, as I said, it's worth fixing.
I’m located in Rochester NY. The dealer might probably be a great place for this job and a little government aid would be essential to this repair to be back on the road safely.
what gov't aid?
This response does not give any advice but I wanted to ask do Water pumps tend to go bad due to cold temperatures? mine seems to be leaking also 95 ranger.
no, but high temperatures will make it go bad faster. And not changing the coolant.