OEM 2005 Dodge Dakota Water Pump

2005 Dodge Dakota Water Pump Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Replace a Water Pump on 3.7L/4.7L Engines on 2005 Dodge Dakota?

  A: 3.7L/4.7L engines have their water pump fastened directly to the engine's timing chain case cover. Before doing anything else, take out the negative battery cable and drain the fluid from the cooling system. Take out the fan/viscous fan drive from the water pump without unhitching it from your car. During water pump replacement, do not remove the fan blade assembly from the thermal viscous fan drive. Then, disconnect the fan shroud assembly by removing its two screws and lift out the fan blade and viscous fan drive from the radiator. Hang the thermal viscous fan drive vertically so silicone fluid does not get into the lubricant. To start, set aside the accessory drive belt, then remove its clamp on the water pump to take off the upper radiator hose. Removal of the bolts from the water pump seems easy, but make sure not to use force at the timing chain cover/case; this could dent or disfigure the machined pieces. Take away the water pump and throw out the gasket. Carefully wipe the area that the gaskets meet and watch for any damage, leaks or broken parts on the water pump assembly. At installation, be sure to clean the two parts that align, place the new gasket and pump between them and tighten all the bolts to 58 Nm (43 ft. lbs.). First, spin the water pump to make sure the impeller doesn't come into contact with the timing chain case/cover. Screw the fan shroud to the radiator using the two included screws, make sure the assembly is 25 mm (1.0 inches) from the fan blade tips to the fan shroud and then attach the fan blade/viscous fan drive assembly. Fix the fan blade/viscous fan drive to the water pump shaft, fill the system, hook up the negative battery cable and start the engine to look for leaks while the engine is warm.