I have a 95 V6 dodge dakota and the water pump is about to crap out. How hard is it to change for a semi novice mechanic. I have done brake jobs, changed bearings, changed EGR valve and alternators. I am strapped for cash and saw the part is pretty cheap but i am sure labor would be outrangous. THanks in advance.

 

Not hard at all!

Drain all the coolant out, remove the radiator fan and drive belt (you should remember how to do that if youve changed an alt), unbolt the accessory bracket... should be something like 11 or 12 total bolts you have to take out (make a mental not where each one came out from cause they are different lengths). Then, take the hoses off the water pump (some of them may have to be cut off and replaced), and then unbolt and remove the water pump.

 

Do yourself a favor and replace the bypass hose when you do the water pump. It's the stubby little hose that connects at the top of the pump and goes back into the block. And it's only like $5

Because if it leaks or blows after you reinstalled everything... you gotta tear everything back apart.

You might have a little trouble with the fan bolt. I did not have any problems. It's a 36MM.

 

Lol, thats the one I had in mind when I said it they might have to be cut off and replaced. When I did mine, I could not for the life of me slide it off the water pump, I had to cut a slit all the way down it and peel it off.

 

I had to do the same thing. It's just too darn short to get a grip anywhere else on it (to twist it to free it up)

 

Ya don't trust that little one. Good thing it hasn't busted on me. That is one hell of a hose to replace in the middle of no where.

 

First time I changed my pump I didn't replace the hose, it eventually leaked on me. The hardest part I think will be getting the fan off.

 

When I replaced mine back in the day, the aluminum tube for the heater core lines was the PITA to get out. It had fused itself into the pump.

But like the other guys said change that lil hose to save yourself some pain, its easier to get at when you are at that point

 

LOL yea I hate that aluminum tube. I forgot about that one same your self some time and buy a new one from dealer for $15.

 

What I do to make things easier is to set the new water pump on the air cleaner or bench or whatever you have available and as you take the bolts off the old one, put them in the corresponding holes in the new one. That way you are pretty much assured that they will go back in the same position they came out from. Just a little tip I picked up along the way.