How much does it cost to fix a car if the water pump isn’t working? You can do the math on your own; it’s not hard. You can easily figure out how many hours it will take your local mechanic to fix your car and how much that will cost.
Many people wonder if they can drive their car with a broken water pump and, if so, how long they can. The good news is that you can probably drive your car for a few days with a broken water pump. The bad news is that it will damage your engine in the long run.
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As long as you have enough engine coolant, you should be able to drive your car up to 20 miles without the radiator fan running. So that your radiator doesn’t leak, it’s important to keep your engine cool. If your radiator leaks, it could get too hot and damage your engine.
It’s the only radiator you’ll have to put in yourself. You decide how the coolant flows around the engine, which keeps the engine at the right temperature. It moves the coolant through the hoses into the radiator and then into the engine block.
To keep your car running well and to help it last longer, you need a good water pump. This article answers the question, “Will my car not start if the water pump is broken?”
You should never drive a car with a broken part, let alone a broken water pump.
But it’s understandable if you have to drive a few more miles before getting the water pump fixed because you have no other choice.
So you might be wondering if it’s safe to drive your car with a broken water pump and, if so, for how long.
If the water pump in your car is broken, you need to get it fixed right away or you could hurt the engine. Depending on a few things, you might be able to drive your car 5–20 miles with a broken water pump. This should get you to the nearest mechanic so they can fix it.
The cooling system of a car can’t work without a water pump. It controls how the coolant flows around the engine to keep it at the right temperature.
It pumps the coolant through the hoses into the radiator and engine block to keep the engine cool so it can work properly.
Read on to learn why your car’s water pump is important and how to tell when it’s time to get a new one.
You will also find out if a broken water pump will keep you from being able to drive your car.
How To Tell If Your Water Pump Is Failing?
The water pump is an important part of the engine, and if it stops working, there will be signs that you can see.
If your car has any of these problems, it’s time to take it to a repair shop and get it fixed. Some signs that a water pump is broken are:
1. Steam or smoke coming from the radiator
If steam or smoke pours out of the radiator, it’s often because the water pump is broken.
When a car starts to smoke, it’s usually because the engine is broken or the fan on the pump isn’t working right.
The smoke could be either light or dark. Both of these colours could mean that your car’s water pump is broken.
This is a very big problem, so you shouldn’t try to turn the engine back on. Before you do anything, you should let the engine cool down.
2. Engine Overheating
To avoid damage, the engine should ideally always run at a certain temperature.
But if the water pump is broken, it won’t cool down the engine as it should.
The result is always an engine that gets too hot.
3. Irregular Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge controls how hot the engine gets.
You use it to see if the cooling system on the engine is working.
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Because the water pump is broken, the temperature gauge can’t do its job right.
The needle on the temperature gauge will start moving back and forth in a strange way. Most of the time, this means that the water pump is broken.
4. Coolant Leaks From the Front Center of the Vehicle
Most of the time, coolant leaks because the gasket or other important seals are worn out or broken.
In a system that works, the seals and the gasket make it easy for coolant to flow from the radiator to the engine.
Keep an eye out for leaks of red or green liquid, which are signs that the coolant is leaking.
This means the water pump is broken and needs to be fixed right away.
5. Unusual Sound From the Engine
If the car is making a strange sound, it could be because the pulley system for the water pump is not tight.
A strange sound could be caused by the belt and bearings coming loose.
This means that the water pump had to be changed right away.
6. The Check Engine Light
You may also need to pay close attention to the light on the dashboard that says “Check Engine.”
It might not mean your water pump is broken, but it does mean that something is wrong and needs to be fixed right away.
The light may come on if the engine misfires because it is too hot.
There are many things that could cause a part of the engine to break.
So, it’s important to have a mechanic do a diagnostic scan to make sure the problem isn’t with the water pump.
How Long Will a Bad Water Pump Last?
Your car won’t run for long if the water pump is broken.
So, you need to make plans to get your car fixed by a trusted mechanic.
When you change the water pump, experts will tell you to also change the timing belt.
The service life of these two parts is the same.
When you put a new part in with an old one, it puts stress on the new part and makes it last much less long.
Because replacing a water pump is a lot of work, you can expect to pay about $800 for parts and labour.
A good pump will cost between $50 and $100. A cheap water pump that doesn’t last long will cost more in the long run.
How Far Can I Drive With a Blown Water Pump?
It’s common for race car drivers to get more horsepower out of their engines by taking out the water pumps in their cars.
So, it is possible to drive a car that has a broken water pump.
But it’s important to remember that it’s not smart to drive with a broken water pump.
If you notice any of the above signs and know for sure that your car’s water pump isn’t working, take your car to the nearest auto repair shop.
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How far you can drive with a broken water pump depends on some important parts.
If you don’t have any of these parts, you can’t drive your car at all.
If you keep driving with these parts not working, you could do more damage to your car and put your life and the lives of other people on the road in danger.
Pay attention to:
Coolant leaks
Overheating engine
Timing belt fails
You might also not be able to drive a car with a broken water pump because of other problems.
Among them are:
1. Type of vehicle
How far you can drive with a broken water pump depends a lot on what kind of car you have and how well it runs.
Most of the old models, which were made before the year 2000, are strong and can still go farther than the newer ones.
Many of the new cars have engines that are cooled by air and can only go a few miles before they break down.
So, think about the make and condition of your car to decide if you can still drive it.
Even if you have an old pump, remember that it still needs to be fixed.
2. Climate
How far your car can go will also depend a lot on the weather.
When it’s cool outside, airflow to your engine will help keep the engine’s temperature stable.
If you can keep the lowest engine speed to the highest gear turnover ratio, the vehicle can still go a long way before it has to stop.
On the other hand, it’s not good to drive when it’s hot and you’re in a low gear with a high engine speed.
The car won’t go very far because the bad water pump makes it likely that the engine will overheat.
Is a Car Drivable With a Bad Water Pump?
The answer to this question will depend on the things we talked about above and how badly the water pump is broken.
Whether your car goes a short or long distance will also depend on the time of day and the type of road you are on.
With a broken water pump, you could travel between 5 and 20 miles.
The less distance you can drive, the more stress you put on the engine.
You have to keep a close eye on the coolant temperature while you’re driving.
If the coolant temperature is too high, you could do damage to your engine that can’t be fixed.
Make sure the coolant temperature stays below 112o C to avoid having to pay a lot for repairs.
Sources: https://micdot.com
Category: Car
