OEM 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 Water Pump

2001 Dodge Ram 3500 Water Pump Parts and Q&A

• Q: How Can a Water Pump Be Replaced Without Discharging the Air Conditioning System on 2001 Dodge Ram 3500?

  A: When equipped, the air conditioning system can be left in place and the water pump can be unbolted from under the engine timing chain cover/case on all gas engines, while it is sealed by a gasket only on 3.9L/5.2L/5.9L engines. If the reason for changing the water pump is damaged bearings or a leaking shaft seal, search for cracks, looseness in the blades and loose rivets on the mechanical cooling fan assembly and change it if any of these are noticed. To begin, remove the negative battery cable and drain the coolant into a clean container you can save to use again if there is nothing dirty in it. Disconnect the windshield washer reservoir tank from the radiator fan shroud, detach the hose coming from the coolant reserve/overflow tank that goes to the radiator and take off the four mounting bolts of the shroud without removing it from your vehicle. While caring for constant tension hose clamps, use a Special Clamp Tool number 6094 or a Snap-On Clamp Tool HPC20 and be sure to wear safety glasses. Remove the top radiator hose on the radiator and then use the nut on the thermal viscous fan drive to loosen the fan so it no longer can move when you turn it anticlockwise with the SP346 Snap-On 36 MM Fan Wrench and Special Tool 6958 Spanner Wrench with Adapter Pins 8346. If swapping out the pump, be careful to not disconnect the fan blade from the thermal control fan drive. Remove the fan blade, fan drive and fan shroud from the engine all at once, so that the thermal viscous fan drive is not placed on its side and exposed to silicone fluid. Take out the accessory drive belt, pull off the lower radiator and heater hoses, disconnect the water pump heater hose coolant return and remove the bolt, as well as the old O-ring. Release the seven bolts holding the water pump, disconnect the clamp at the water pump end of the bypass hose and take the bypass hose off as you pull the pump out. As much as needed, clean the gaskets where the pump screws in and then check the pump for any cracks, leaks from the shaft, shaking bearings or rubbing from impellers on the body; if there are problems, change the pump. When putting in the water pump, clean both sides of the gasket, place a new gasket, lead the nipple into the bypass hose and tighten the bolts to 40 Nm. Position the bypass hose clamp, rotate the water pump to ensure the impeller won't touch the timing chain cover, put an antifreeze-covered new O-ring on the hose coolant return tube and make sure everything is properly attached. Link the radiator lower hose to the water pump, install the heater hose and clamp to the coolant return tube, place the drive belt, bring the fan shroud and fan blade/viscous fan together and fit the fan shroud end. After that, fasten the fan blade/viscous fan drive assembly to the water pump shaft, fill the cooling system, attach the negative battery cable back, turn on the engine and check if any leaks have formed.