OEM 2002 Dodge Dakota Water Pump

2002 Dodge Dakota Water Pump Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Efficiently Remove and Install a Water Pump on 2002 Dodge Dakota?

  A: To take out the water pump, start by removing the negative battery cable, draining the system and storing the coolant you can reuse. When installing constant tension hose clamps, use those tools meant for such clamps, including the special tool (number 6094) or Snap-On tool (HPC-20) and always remember to put on safety glasses. Remove the upper radiator clamp and the hose from the radiator and remove the fan drive from the water pump hub shaft by turning the mounting nut counterclockwise with a Snap-On 36MM Fan Wrench (SP346) and a Special Tool 6958 Spanner Wrench with pins 8346 to keep the pulley from rotating. Do not take off the fan blade assembly when you are changing the water pump. First, remove all the fan hardware and then pull out the fan shroud with its fan and thermal viscous fan drive together, but make sure you don't store the thermal viscous fan drive horizontally. Next, get rid of the accessory drive belt, the clamps on the radiator hose and heater hose and finally loosen and toss the bolt for the heater hose return tube O-ring. Unscrew the seven water pump mounting bolts, unclamp the bypass hose and take off the bypass hose, while throwing away the old gasket. Clean the gasket mating area carefully so as not to damage it and check the water pump assembly for cracks, leaks or bearing problems. Clean where the gasket will go, use a new gasket to mount the pump, guide the water pump nipple into the bypass hose and tighten the bolts to 40 Nm (30 ft. lbs.) torque. Move the bypass hose clamp into place, take a final look to make sure the impeller is not touching the timing chain case and affix a coated O-ring to the heater hose. Tie the coolant return tube and its mounting bolt into place and finish by connecting the radiator lower hose and the heater hose with the clamp. Insert the accessory drive belt and place the fan shroud and fan blade/viscous fan drive together like one. Link the fan blade/viscous fan drive assembly to the water pump shaft, top off the cooling system, reconnect the negative battery cable, turn on the engine and look for any leaks.