2001.5 Dodge 2500.  It's parked in stepdaughter's yard in Attleborough, Ma near Pawtucket, RI. I have a couple of days.  It's leaking coolant at front of engine.  It's pretty wet but the center of the wet is the water pump.  I don't know who to take it to that I can trust.  With my MS, I can not do my own work.     

Cant help with a shop, but does you stepdaughter no someone who can turn a wrench. It is very easy to replace the water pump. It is as easy a water pump to change as any I have ever owned. A little adult supervision and a willing soul will get r done.

No.  She recommended a nearby Midas shop who's been doing her work.  I have no experience with this one. 

I would like to think any shop could do this simple repair, as long as it is the water pump. Remove serpentine belt, remove 2 bolts, remove water pump. It does to get more simple than that.

It even has an O ring instead of a gasket so there is no scraping and cleaning. It is one of the easiest.

Nothing else?  New or rebuilt water pump?  Any other quirks I should know about?   

I put in new ones. They are the same or similar to the 12 valve engines. I've done two on my 1 st gen and then one one the 24 valve, but the 24 valve had the problem of the belt making noises  I thought was the water pump.

 

I think the toughest part of the change out is getting the right size ratchet wrench to release tension on the belt. I had to add a length of pipe to the ratchet so I had enough leverage to get the belt to release. I can't remember if it was a 1/2'' drive or 3/8ths drive that fits on the front of the tensioner.

 

I think O Reillys' had new  and rebuilt water pumps for the Cummins.

Edited August 14, 20168 yr by JAG1

Pretty sure it is 3/8 on the tensioner and a cheater bar about 2' long works fine. The space is a little narrow to get the wrench on. I put the wrench on then slid the cheater over it. The bolts holding the pump were easy to get to as I remember. Got a pump from AA or AZ  or some where similar. Pretty much had to take what I could get at the time. That was 3 or 4 years ago and it still works fine.

OK, so once the serpentine belt is off, might as well have a new belt put on...  the labor is the same. 

I doubt there'd be a problem getting a water pump but Cummins NorthEast is in Dedham, Ma as I recall.  Too far to drive losing coolant but a parts source if worst comes to worst.  ~30 miles up Interstate 95...  I don't travel well, but if the incentive is enough, within range. 

What sort of time should a general auto shop spend on a water pump change on a high 4X4 (stock, non-lifted but it's high)?   I'm assuming it will take longer than a flat rate where one only needs to ean over a fender. 

Thanks guys.

They would probably charge an hour of labor.

Drain coolant

Remove belt (3/8 rachet)

Remove water pump (Two 10mm bolts)

Then put it all back.

 

Might have them do a thermostat at the same time. It's only three 8mm bolts.

Where's Tbo? He's not far. I'd shoot over but I'm on a jobsite in New York. New belt, new water pump, super easy.

Wife took it in a shop there just now.  They are trying to source the pump.  I did not think that would be a problem.  The shop doesn't want to use a pump from AutoZone...  dealer wanted 275 for a re-man & a week to get it.  I suggested they check with Cummins NorthEast in Dedham, Ma.  A new Cummins pump is being overnighted.  Problem solved. 

Edited August 16, 20168 yr by flagmanruss
update

Holy cow... I can buy a new water pump for 47 bucks right now at NAPA. If your near me I'd gladly install it for nothing.

Glad to hear you got it covered. What did a new Cummins pump cost minus the shipping?

I don't know why the mechanic doesn't want to use the AutoZone water pump.  I can only guess he desn't trust it.  

The new pump from Cummins (not reman from Dodge) is supposed to be $100 less than the $275 dealer...  so I'm expecting $175. 

I'm also getting a flush, new coolant, thermostat & belt.     

not too bad 5gen for all that...

The damages:

Cummins water pump 1 year/100,000 mile guarentee $195

Serpentine belt $65

Thermostat $69

Antifreeze 3.5G $69

Labor $145

Disposal $4.45

 

Total With Tax $557

Ouch!  It sorks paying retail. 

Picked the truck up...  had to drive through heavy traffic both ways...  An hour round trip took 2 hours. 

Ouch!! Retail does suck. You better get to driving if you are gonna use up that 100k in a year.

16 hours ago, flagmanruss said:

Cummins water pump 1 year/100,000 mile guarentee $195

 

Sorry, I don't see a water pump worth $195 and only gives 1 year warranty. I'm not a huge fan of Cummins parts being most of the time Cummins parts are way over priced and fail just the same as part store part.

Once a week or so I try to search ebay quick for cummins parts.  Sometimes you can score a new old item for next to nothing and leave it on the shelf.