How to Repair the Water Pump in a 1998 Ford Explorer 5.0
- 1). Disconnect the battery's negative terminal with a socket wrench. Position a drain pan under the radiator and open the radiator drain. Replace the plug after the coolant is completely drained from the radiator.
- 2). Disconnect the cooling fan shroud with a socket wrench. Remove the mounting bolts for the cooling fan. Remove the cooling fan assembly. Disconnect the accessory drive belt.
- 3). Detach the water bypass hose and heater hose from the water pump. Disconnect the brackets for the wiring harness of the engine control sensor, and push the wiring harness out of the way. Remove the attaching bolts for the water pump pulley with a socket wrench and disconnect the pulley.
- 4). Remove the attaching bolts for the water pump. Record the position of each bolt since they have different lengths. Detach the pump from the front engine cover. Disconnect the radiator hose from the water pump. Remove the pump from the vehicle and discard its gasket.
- 5). Clean the mounting surfaces of the pump and front engine cover with a shop towel. Apply a layer of gasket sealer to both sides of the new gasket. Mount the gasket onto the water pump.
- 6). Connect the radiator hose to the new pump. Install the pump and place the mounting bolts in the correct holes that you recorded earlier. Torque the mounting bolts to between 15 and 21 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Complete the installation of the water pump by performing steps two and three in reverse order.
- 7). Refill the cooling system with coolant and reattach the negative battery cable with a socket wrench. Start the engine and check for leaks in the cooling system.
