Water Pump ? 89 Taurus

[ysdiver]

I think the water pump on my daughter's 89 Taurus (3 liter) is maybe shot. The belt that goes about the pulley has jumped off and when I look to put it back on I noticed that the pulleys don't line up. Also, there's a lot of movement in the pulley. What do you think? Water pump? How hard is it to replace and how does the tensioner work?

[jfjohn]

the car is almost 20 years old, I'd just junk it. You'd get over 300 for junking it nowadays with metals so expensive. you'll save money on your car insurance with a 96 or higher car since it has better safety features (air bags, antilock brakes, etc).

[Skyhawk]

If the water pump pully has that much play in it, it needs to be replaced. Go to the local library, or an "on-line" source, and read about the job of removing and replaceing the water pump on your model year/engine. The belt tensioner is spring loaded (preset tension) if you have a serpentine belt. On a car that old I would replace the tensioner and the belt also. If you have a tensioner that is a "jack-screw" type, then the tension is applied by a screw that jacks up the tensioner pully and applies tension to the belt(s). If you have this type of tensioner then the screw should be sprayed with a penetrating oil and let soak for a day or two before trying to move it. I cannot remember at the moment, but these (jack-screws) may be reverse threaded. I do remember them being turned with an allen wrench (aka hex key).

[phantom_smack]

the Taurus has the spring type tensioner that is really hard to get someting on it.(15mm head)I sometimes just he man it by pulling the belt it takes a couple of trys if the belt slips but it does work.