How do you replace the water pump on a 2000 Dodge Durango?

Answer 1

First drain the radiator. Then you'll need to remove the fan and shroud. Then remove the belts, water pump pulley, and hoses. Make note of how the belts run. When removing the water pump, note which length bolts came from which holes so you can get them back on right. Also note the position of any brackets attached to the pump.

Be sure to scrape the mating surface on the engine clean, especially old gasket material. Match the new pump up to the old one to make sure they're identical. Apply a thin coat of RTV sealant(Permatex, etc) to the new pump, then mate the gasket to it. Slide a couple bolts into their holes to keep the gasket positioned correctly. Apply sealant to the engine side of the gasket, then carefully mate the pump to the engine and bolt it in. Be sure to also bolt back on any attached brackets. Do not overtighten the bolts as you'll crush the gasket. If you have a torque wrench, the bolts should be tightened to 40in-lbs on the 4.7L V8, or 30in-lbs on the V6 and all other V8's. 23in-lbs if you're unlucky enough to have a 4-cylinder.

Reinstall everything else you took off, check the belt tension before replacing the fan and shroud. Fire it up and check for leaks.