How to Replace the Water Pump in a Subaru Outback

The water pump is the heart of the Subaru Outback cooling system, circulating the coolant. When the water pump is faulty, it can cause serious damage to the engine of your Subaru Outback. Make sure to change out a bad water pump.

Instructions

3.0L Outback Engines

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable and remove the engine undercover if applicable.

2

Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan.

3

Remove the radiator, the timing chain and the accessory drive belts.

4

Loosen and remove the water pump retainer bolts and remove the water pump from the engine.

5

Clean the gasket mating surfaces before continuing and replace the old gaskets with new ones.

6

Install the new water pump, tightening the bolts to 5 foot pounds. Make sure to install a new o-ring to the water pump.

7

Replace the timing chain, the front chain cover and accessory drive belts, the radiator and the engine undercover if applicable.

8

Refill the cooling system with coolant and reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and check for leaks when it reaches normal operating temperatures.

All Other Outback Engines

9

Disconnect the negative battery cable and remove the engine undercover if applicable.

10

Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan.

11

Remove the radiator fan connectors, the radiator outlet, the heater bypass hose and heater hoses.

12

Take out the reservoir tank on the Outback Legacy, the radiator fan motor assembly, the accessory drive belts and timing belt, the belt idler 2, the belt tension adjustor, the camshaft position sensor, the left side camshaft pulley and timing belt cover and the tensioner bracket.

13

Remove the heater and radiator hoses from the water pump, loosen and remove the water pump retainer bolts and the water pump from the engine.

14

Clean the gasket-mating surfaces and install new gaskets.

15

Tighten the water pump bolts to 10 foot pounds in the 1998 to 2004 engines. After tightening them once tighten them again to 10foot pounds. Tighten the bolts to 8.9 foot pounds in 2005 or newer engines. Retighten them in the same way.

16

Reattach and reinstall all components in reverse order. Tighten the left side camshaft pulley bolts to 72 foot pounds on turbocharged engines and 58 foot pounds to non-turbocharged engines. Tighten the belt idler 2 bolts to 29 foot pounds.

17

Refill the cooling system with coolant and reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and check for leaks when it reaches normal operating temperatures.