Caravan Water Pump - Yes, You Can.

[Blue Bowtie]

If your pump is beginning to leak, squeal, or fail to circulate coolant, and you've already looked down into the engine compartment with a grimace, wondering how much it's going to cost for replacement, you are not alone. Be assured that the pump can be replaced fairly easily with some rudimentary tools and equipment, and about two hours of spare time. The flat rate for pump replacement is 3.4 hours, which will usually cost you upwards of $250 in labor alone at many places. The dealer list price for a new pump is $110, plus another $7 for the quad ring/gasket you'll need. You can beat the book rate and pay yourself the labor, and buy a new (not remanufactured) pump including a gasket for less than $50 at many auto parts stores.

1. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it securely on stands. For the amount of money you are saving, you can easily afford a decent jack and substantial jack stands, and have them at your disposal forever to aid in numerous other projects. If you shop right, you'll have plenty left over, too.
2. Remove the RF wheel and plastic lower splash guard.
3. Loosen the 3 water pump sheave bolts.
4. Drain coolant.
5. Relieve accessory belt tension and remove the belt.
6. Remove water pump sheave bolts and sheave, pushing sheave backward onto pump to provide clearance.
   
   
7. Move the pump sheave around the hub to provide access to the five pump mounting bolts.
8. Remove the five pump bolts and loosen pump from timing case.
9. Support the engine from below. Loosen the three front engine mount bolts so there is about ½ inch of free travel. Remove the three RF upper engine mount top bolts.
   
   
10. Lower the engine about two inches.
    
    
11. Remove pump and install the replacement. Remember to slide the pump sheave onto the pump hub before installation, There will be no room to install the sheave once the pump is bolted in place.
    
    
12. Bolt the pump sheave onto the hub finger tight.
13. Raise engine and install the three RF upper engine mount bolts and the three front engine mount bolts securely.
14. Attach the accessory belt and tighten the three pump sheave bolts.
15. Install the lower splash shield and RF wheel.
16. Fill the cooling system and overflow reservoir with a 50% solution of the appropriate coolant.
17. Start engine with the radiator cap removed and monitor for leakage, Top off the coolant as thermostat opens and allows entrapped air to purge.
18. Install the radiator cap.

Monitor the coolant level in the reservoir closely for several days of driving as more entrapped air may purge.

[KManiac]

What year and engine is your Caravan??

I have replaced the water pump twice in my 1998 T&C with 3.8L. Although the pump pictured looks like the pump I have replaced, the placement of the pump housing on the engine in your pictures is very different than it is on my van. I certainly didn't have to remove the front wheel or loosen any motor mounts to change my pump. Pump replacement for me took less than one hour.

[ronmar1]

Same with my 95 3.3. The water pump is on the front of the engine, on the forward side, not on the rear side as pictured. Just drop the splash guard and there it is. One hour is plenty of time to do the job. I didn't have to loosen any motor mounts either. There's plenty of clearance to remove the pump with out doing any of that stuff.

Ron

[Blue Bowtie]

2003 3.3L is pictured.

[Vats]

Blue Bowtie,

That is a fabulous post and very detailed, excellent info.

[Alphabravo]

Excellent post! Very clean motor, too. How miles?

[KManiac]

First of all, great post on the water pump replacement for the 2003.

Seeing this shows to me how much effort Dailmer/Chrysler has gone to redesign their vehicles, making them harder for the DIY'er to work on it themselves.