Volvo 850 Water Pump Troubleshooting

If your Volvo 850 is overheating and you think you have to change the water pump, it is best to troubleshoot the problem before you actually change the part. Changing a water pump is not a five-minute fix, and you do not want to spend the time and money to change it, only to find that the problem was something else. Following a few simple steps will let you know if the water pump is causing the overheating problems.

Instructions

1

Open the engine compartment while the engine is off. Check the engine coolant level in the radiator and the overflow reservoir. The radiator must be full and the reservoir fluid level must be at the "Full when cold" line. Do not attempt to open the radiator when the engine is hot.

2

Make sure the belt is on the water pump pulley. Grasp the water pump pulley and try to wiggle it. Does it move when you wiggle it? If it does, then the bearing is shot and you need to replace the pump. There should be no play in the pulley at all.

3

Extend the auto repair mirror and lower it into the engine compartment near the water pump. Look at the bottom side of the pump and notice if there is any leaking around the perimeter. Check the weep hole to see if there is any significant leaking. A few drops are normal, but significant loss indicates that you need to replace the pump.