How to Install a Water Pump on a Civic

The water pump is an essential part of your Honda Civic's cooling system. It pushes the hot water out of the engine block and into the radiator. This water is then cooled and pulled, again by the water pump, back into the engine block, lowering its temperature. A faulty or broken water pump cannot perform this job and will cause the engine to overheat. If not replaced, this can lead to permanent engine damage.

Instructions

1

Place a large liquid container underneath the drain plug on the bottom of your radiator.

2

Unscrew the radiator plug and allow all of the coolant to drain.

3

Locate the water pump. On the Honda Civic, the water pump will be on the right side (if you are facing the car from the front) of the engine attached to the timing belt.

4

Use a screwdriver to loosen the hose clamps on each side of the water pump. Pull off the hoses to disconnect them.

5

Loosen the belt retaining bolt until you can pull the belt off of the water pump. Unscrew and remove the two mounting bolts that hold the water pump in place.

6

Pull off the old water pump and put the new one in its place.

7

Screw the two mounting bolts back into place and tighten them to secure the new water pump.

8

Put the belt onto the new water pump and tighten it to the appropriate foot pounds of tension using a torque wrench. Consult your owner's manual for the appropriate tension numbers as they vary depending on the year and model of your Civic.

9

Reattach the two hoses and use a screwdriver to tighten the clamps on the hoses. Screw the drain plug back into place and fill the radiator with coolant.