How do you tell if water pump is going bad on a 1995 Lincoln town car?

Answer 1

In general, signs of a failing water pump would include a high pitched squeal from the area of the pump, that varies in pitch or volume with the speed the engine is revving. This noise comes from the water pump bearings wearing out, and approaching total failure. Note a loose fan belt on older cars can sometimes screech as it slips, but since the Town Car uses a single ribbed serpentine belt I doubt such a sound would come from the belts. (Self adjusting single serpentine belts: Best thing since sliced bread!) Another sign is "weepage" from a vent hole on the water pump. Although I have a 95 town car in my driveway, I have NOT gone out with a flashlight to look to see where this is or where you have to look to see it. But in general, water pumps have a small vent hole and as it starts to fail you will get some leakage from it. If it has been leaking or weeping (less than a leak), it will generally be stained from the hole down. If you have either the noisy bearings or a stained vent hole, you should start thinking about proactive replacement of the pump so YOU can pick when the car is out of commission, rather than the car breaking down when you don't want it to. Oh yeah, a 3rd sign: I used to have a 72 Pontiac LeMans, this was before I wrenched on my own vehicles...It had been making the noise. One day I opened the hood and there was a leak at the top of the pump that would shoot a water-pistol-like stream of water about 10 feet straight up in the air! Hopefully you won't get to that point! HTH Paul