OEM 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 Van Water Pump

2000 Dodge Ram 3500 Van Water Pump Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to service the water pump on 2000 Dodge Ram 3500 Van?

  A: When servicing the water pump, remove the negative battery cable and drain the system, making sure the reusable coolant is put in a fresh container. First, detach the plastic air cleaner intake tube and then the lower half and afterward remove the upper half of the fan shroud. Good tools for servicing constant tension hose clamps are Special Clamp Tool 6094 or Snap-On Clamp Tool HPC-20 and safety glasses should be worn when using them. Wedge Special Tool 6958 into the fan with Adapter Pins 8346 installed or use Snap-On 36 MM Fan Wrench SP346 and then disconnect the thermal viscous fan fan from the water pump hub shaft by turning the mounting nut counterclockwise. Do not loosen the fan assembly from the thermal viscous fan drive when replacing the water pump. When removing the fan blade/fan drive assembly, do not store the thermal viscous fan drive sideways to stop silicone fluid contamination. Make sure you do not take out the water pump pulley bolts at this point. Loosen the belt tension by turning the tensioner clockwise and next, remove the belt. After that, get rid of the four bolts holding the water pump pulley to the hub and the lower radiator hose at the water pump. Release the heater hose coolant return tube bolt, take off the tube and cast away the old O-ring. Come out the seven water pump bolts and then unclasp the clamp holding the bypass hose at the pump's end as you remove the pump. Throw away the old gasket, being careful not to remove the water pump at the timing chain case/cover, since that may harm the machined parts. Clean both of the mating surfaces, fit a new gasket, insert the water pump onto the gasket, guide the fitting into the bypass hose and tighten the bolts in both directions to 40 Nm (30 ft. lbs.) torque. Place the bypass hose clamp so that the pump impeller clearance from the timing chain case/cover is adequate. Attach an O-ring to the heater hose coolant return tube, cover its front surface with antifreeze and fix the tube to the engine block. Connect one side of the lower radiator hose to the water pump and the hose of the heater to the coolant return tube. Screw in the bolts of the water pump pulley until they reach 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) torque but don't let the pulley spin. Let go of the tension in the automatic belt tensioner, fit the drive belt and place it correctly to make sure the engine cools properly. Set the fan blade/viscous fan drive assembly, fan shroud, plastic air cleaner intake tube and upper radiator hose with clamp into place. Add coolant to the system, put back on the negative battery cable, start the car and look for any leaks.