Ok, so we all know I know next to nothing about engines. My 5.9 has a coolant leak. I had simne trouble diagnosing the issue due to the coolant hitting the belt and spraying everywhere. Finally yanked of the skid plate, had my wife hold a hose with on the coolant intake, and built up pressure using the hoise nozzle. The leak appeared to be coming from the part behind where the fan connects to the engine. I will attempt to explain this so that maybe someone can tell me what it is and if I can diy fix it. If I grad a fan blade and push it backwards towards the engine, there is some play in it. When I push the fan blade back towards the engine, water/coolant somes trickling out onto the floow. This piece is actually the part where the fan connects to the rest of the engine, and it is kinda in the center of all the wheels/pulleys. Is this the water pump? How hard would it be to fix this myself? I included a pic of the part.

 

your water pump is OUT buy a new one not a re-man

 

+1 Water pump
Do not drive it; you will over heat. If not, your water pump pulley will wobble so much it will force the belt off. Either way, you'll be stranded.
These water pumps are not to difficult to change if you are mechanically inclined. You will have to remove the shroud and fan (you can rent a special wrench to remove the fan).

 

Also, replace your belt and the bypass hose. It's usually worth the extra $15 to get the premium belt. Otherwise it will probably squeal. Personally I like Dayco. Goodyear Gators are probably the best, but they are hard to find locally.

 

+3. That's it.

IndyD

 

+4

The water pump has a weep hole built in on the bearing/seal surface. When the seal or bearing starts to wear then it will weep out behind that pulley on the surface of the water pump (on the main drive shaft). They build them this way to help people identify the worn parts before they lock up and send the fan through the hood/radiator or worse, through a person.

 

Great thanks for the advice I have been busy and have been driving the wifes car while the durango has been sitting in the driveway waiting. So:

I drain the coolant, remove fan, remove bolts on pump, slide old pump out, place new pump in hole with gasket, replace fan & belt, refill fluids, and I am good?

 

Yep. Don't forget the bypass house and RTV for the water pump gasket.
If you have any uncertainties, do a youtube search. There are several examples of water pump changes for Durangos and Dakotas. I find it very helpful if it's a project I've never tackled before.
Enjoy!

 

Bypass house?

 

Hose... Lol. Typing on my phone.