How do you change a water pump on a 1998 jeep wrangler?

Answer 1

1. Drain coolant system. ( catch and retain coolant as it is illegal to dump )
2. disconnect lower radiator hose from water pump.
3. remove cooling fan ( note there may or may not be studs in the water pump that hold this on, you will need to move these over to the new pump because it will not come with them )
4. loosen serpentine belt idler pulley and remove belt.
5. line up holes in Power Steering pump pulley and remove mounting bolts for it, then put the pump aside ( you should have enough slack in the lines not to have to disconnect them )
6. remove power steering pump/idler pulley bracket
7. remove second idler pulley ( on non air conditioned models )
8. remove heater hose connected to steel pipe attached to the top of the water pump.
9. remove water pump bolts, and remove pump.
10. clean engine surface diligently of any trace of gasket where pump was bolted.
11. transfer heater hose steel line from old pump to new pump ( use a little Teflon tape on threads ) making notice of where the outlet was pointed.
12. transfer fan studs to new pump.
13. apply water proof gasket rtv ( thin ) to new water pump where gasket sits, then apply same thin coat to other side of gasket so you have both sides of gasket coated, and the gasket is held in place on the pump. ( this helps so it doesn't move on you while you position the new pump.
14. put the new pump in place and start all mounting bolts, then tighten them in random order till all are tight, best to use a star pattern like on lug nuts.
15. replace power steering bracket and second idler pulley
16. replace power steering pump and lower radiator hose ( use new clamp )
17. replace upper heater hose ( use new clamps )
18. replace cooling fan
19. replace serpentine belt
20. fill system with 50/50 coolant mix
21. start engine and check for leaks.