How long does a water pump pulley last?

Pulleys and drive belts in a car help ensure that everything gets the power it needs. Without the correct operation of these components, the car, as a rule, will not be able to work at all. The water pump pulley on the car helps…

Pulleys and drive belts in a car help ensure that everything gets the power it needs. Without the correct operation of these components, the car, as a rule, will not be able to work at all. The water pump pulley on the car helps provide the power this part needs to push coolant through the engine. Every time your car starts, the water pump pulley needs to spin freely for the car's cooling system to work properly. Without a freely rotating pulley, the water pump would not be able to do its intended job.

The water pump pulley on a car is designed to last a lifetime, but there are many problems that can lead to the need to replace this part. There is usually a press fit bearing in the middle of the water pump where the water pump shaft will run. In some cases, the protective cover that sits over this bearing will break off and all the grease inside the bearing will leak out. This will cause the bearing to be completely seized and unable to rotate with the pulley. Instead of trying to replace just the bearing in the pulley, it will be much easier to replace the entire pulley.

Trying to perform this type of car repair without the necessary experience can create a lot of additional problems. Paying attention to the warning signs your car will give when there is a problem with the water pump pulley will help reduce the amount of damage done.

Here are some warning signs you may notice when water pump pulley problems occur:

• A drive belt on a car shows sudden signs of wear
• A rattle is heard when the engine is running.
• Pulley parts are missing

If any of the above symptoms are present on your vehicle, have a certified mechanic replace the faulty water pump pulley to eliminate any further complications.