I've got an '02 and have been thinking about the water pump lately. The search engine wasn't functioning so I thought I might ask some of you guys in this forum.

Anyone replace theirs yet?

 

Simon, do you suspect something wrong with your water pump? Is it leaking or making a lot of noise?
Here is the inspection process:
1. Loosen the pump pulley bolts.
2. Loosen the belt tensioner and take off the belt.
3. Remove the pulley bolts from (1).
4. Manually turn the pump shaft counterclockwise. It should turn freely.
5. Check for seal leakage. A small amount of "weeping" is normal from the bleed hole.

To change it out:
6. Drain the engine coolant (open the drain plug at the bottom of the rad) till no more comes out.
7. Remove 6 bolts that hold the pump onto the engine (5 small - 16 lb/ft and 1 big bolt - 33 lb/ft).
8. Clean the mating surface on the engine block.
9. Install new pump with new O-ring.
10. Re-install pulley
11. Re-install belt
12. Torque down pulley bolts - 10 lb/ft.
13. Fill coolant and bleed in the proper way

 

Thanks for your response Xviper. No, nothing wrong with the water pump. I'm just thinking about maintenance. I tend to over maintain my car. But I know the water pump will be due of course in the future.

I thought it might be a replacement item when you reach a certain mileage like most cars (timing belt & water pump)

 

Not an item you need to maintain on these cars.....Waterpumps on Hondas are good up to 200,000kms or 120,000miles

dont waste your time and $$

 

If you keep up with the coolant maintenance, the water pump should work for a long, long time. Your '02 coolant is good for 10 years or 120K miles, but you should examine it annually for freeze/boiling point and visual appearance and change it early if something isn't right. Check for significant leakage around the pump and hose fittings.

 

Change that coolant that is the best thing. Never run your coolant 10yrs it doesn't last, though they say it does, it doesn't.


This is what Honda says: Replace coolant at 120,000 miles or 120 months, then every 60,000 miles or 60 months thereafter.


??? why do they say after you change it at 120k then change it every 60k hhmmmm I wonder what they holding out on.

 

I'm with you on this one. I wouldn't trust any engine coolant to go that long. I think the reason why the second interval is shorter is because the internal water jacket is no longer new. It can become spotted with deposits which can then accelerate further deposits (using the initial deposits as a substrate). The question is why would they want it to get to that point to begin with? I would prefer to change out the coolant early and minimize or prevent the development of those deposits.
I foresee revenue for all their parts depts. in their future.

 

I remember seeing the maintenance schedule for the coolant in the past. I haven't reached the interval yet but I think that'll be my next DIY, next week

Thanks for the heads up everyone.