dodge dakota 97 water pump

does anyone have any suggestions for changing water pump in 97 dodge dakota??? Thanks

I have One, first, BUY A GOOD PUMP, no economy shi*, ive gone through 2 in a year, remove the fan while the belt is still on, replace the bypass hose (saves you time later) and use a genuing MOPAR gasket. IVE BLOWN 3 CHEAPIES, check out your fan clutch, if this caused it to go bad, it WILL do it again, if the fan is bent at all, it can cause the fan clutch to go

to replace the bypass hose, i would recomend pulling the A/C / alternator mount, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT DISCONNECT THE A/C, and be easy on the belt tension pulley, it it touchy, and you are better off to replace all hoses while the hood is up, this will save you time anf money later

GOOD LUCK MAN (If you allredy havent dont the job)

i am asuming you have a 3.9l or5.2l engine so they are not too bad to do as rasaic324 said loosen clutch fan before removing belt i think the wrench size is 1 1\2" and just hit ih with a hammer loosens right up

to replace the bypass hose, i would recomend pulling the A/C / alternator mount, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT DISCONNECT THE A/C, and be easy on the belt tension pulley, it it touchy, and you are better off to replace all hoses while the hood is up, this will save you time anf money later
Have 3.9, do I need to remove the entire A/C-alt bracket assembly to access the bypass hose? Shop will charge 2 hours labor. Leaks once in awhile, pees about 1/4 cup on ground. Never overheats.

I can't get the o ring to seat properly without chewing it up?? (that goes to the heater core?) Does it just seat at the end of the hole or does it go in all the way to the bottom?

linksmaker, did you get it replaced? Get the new hardline to replace the old one, lubricate it before inserting it all the way in, then adjust it to the mounting bolt on the pump housing.