Have a little squeak when I start up that goes away as the engine warms. Repair shop told me that I have one small leak in the water pump and one in the gasket were it attaches to the engine. The leaks are causing water to hit the serpentine belt and that is what is causing the squeak. As things warm up it dries out and that is why the squeak goes away.

They want to charge almost $600.00 to replace. 1) is this a fair price? 2) is it something a reasonable person could do themselves with an average set of tools?

Thank you for the input

 

What year make and engine do you have !

 

1) sounds about right for a shop to charge that much, maybe a bit on the high side
2) yes, a water pump is not that hard to change, the $20 haynes manual might be a good idea if you are inexperienced.

 

Not rocket science to replace the water pump. Even if you have not wrenched much before, this is a fairly straight forward job. Round up some basic hand tools and do it yourself. Will save you most of that $600 estimate. May take you most of an afternoon to do it tho if you have little previous experience.

 

Ugh.. can't believe I forgot to put the truck specs in the post. 94 F150 8 cylinder 5.0 302.

I do have the Haynes manual.

 

Let the shop do it. When the water pump bolts snap of in the block you'll wish you just payed them to do it. When do them at work at least 1or 2 breaks on every one of them..

 

$600 to replace a water pump!? Maybe on a FWD car. I did mine in an afternoon. If you're worried about snapping the bolts off soak them in PB blaster or the like a couple days before you tackle it.

 

I'm gonna throw this out there... Do it. If six hundred gets the timing cover gasket done too... I think it's like 8 to 10 hour book time to replace timing cover gasket, and of course, water pumps on the way there

 

I just did this on mine. i have the 351 but from what I understand the water pump job is pretty similary. I had never done it before and it took me probably 8 hours of two weekends. I was lucky enought not to break any bolts but I soaked the crap out of them with PB. You can do it, just be patient.

I had a shop tell me the same thing about the belt but the squeal is still there so don't be disappointed if it doesn't go a away. My water pump was definitley going out so it need to be replaced, it just didn't remedy the belt squeal.

 

The water pump is not that bad...just remember to replace the by-pass hose while your there...un-bolt the A/C and just flip it upside down on top of the motor..remove the fan clutch while on the motor...was easier for me..soak the bolts like stated above...save $500