How do you replace the water pump on a 2007 Dodge Caravan?

Answer 1

Should be easy .....but it is not.

Drain Antifreeze. Jack vehicle up on pass side front. Remove passenger side front wheel. Remove plastic splash guard that covers front of motor by pulling out 4 plastic fasteners.

Remove serpentine belt. Pull down on tension-er from underneath vehicle using a 1/2 inch - 2ft long breaker bar. The 1/2 inch head will fit right into slot on tension-er. ( A small pipe wrench will fit nicely on the top of the tension-er if you don't have clearance to get breaker bar into slot.)

Remove 3 bolts on pulley. 14 mm socket. The pulley will not come off the vehicle because the frame is too close.

Remove 5 bolts on water pump - 10 mm socket / wrench

You will need to move the Pulley around the water pump to reach all of the bolts.

Position the pulley behind the flange on the water pump so it is as compact as possible before removal.

You will notice that the water pump will not come out of the cavity in the motor completely because the frame is in the way. You will need to get about an additional 1/2 inch of space between the motor and the frame to remove the impeller on the water pump from the cavity.

To create space you will need a strong friend to position a 2 ft pry bar on the frame above the water pump and leverage it against the crankshaft bolt at the bottom end of the motor. Put a piece of wood in front of the crankshaft bolt so the pry bar pushes against the wood. As your friend applies pressure on the pry bar to move the motor over the 1/2 inch you need, you can pull the water pump / pulley combo out of the cavity and remove.

Clean the area where the old gasket was and prep the new water pump. Apply a small amount of silicone to the groove that holds the gasket so the gasket will not slip out while you are putting it back into the motor. Slip the pulley over the flange on the new water pump and make it as compact as possible.( You will need to replace the the pulley and the pump at the same time.)

Have your strong friend use the pry bar again to create the clearance you will need to put the water pump back into the cavity.

Make sure gasket is still in place properly in groove.

Replace water pump bolts while moving the pulley around the bolts to get at them.( fun)

Replace the 3 bolts on the pulley.

Position serpentine belt and pull down on tension-er to get belt in proper place.

Replace plastic splash shield. Refill Antifreeze. Replace front wheel. Lower vehicle.

Run motor until hot and check for leaks.

Takes about 1 1/2 hours.