Hello.

I have a 2000 3.9 V6 Dakota, last week I noticed rising temps sitting in traffic and the A/C would not blow cold while idling and found both the A/C fan and cooling fan to not be working right, both were replaced and now all is fine there but we found the water pump to be leaking, which means it's going bad right?

It was still fine as I thought I could drive it and just keep coolant in it (not that bad of a leak at all) but recently started hearing a chirping sound. It started in the morning and didn't really go away for a drive, it speeds up when throttle is applied so it's not just something vibrating.

Is this sound a sound of a bad water pump or something else? If it's not the pump, is it still OK to drive with the leak or will the pump eventually fail? I don't know if the leaking means a bad seal or the bearings are going bad and if that's what the sound is. It only started after the fan replacement.

Any input is greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

the water pump bearing can chirp. So could something else.

Regardless, you have a leak. Replace the water pump. It's not difficult.

The seal will only get worse and you really don't want to risk overheating.

 

I'm going to for sure, just need to find a day or two to do it and when I don't have to work.

I was also thinking maybe some coolant was getting on the belt and causing the chirp, I guess I'll just go look at it more and see if I can determine what it is, it's not super loud so it's hard to really pinpoint.

 

Well I'm lost.

I let the truck run for a few minutes and observed the water pump area. No leaks. There looks to be a very small leak from what looks like a heater hose going into the pump but nowhere else that I saw from the 10 minutes or so it ran.

The chirp is still there though, there's no play in the fan, could it be the belt maybe too lose or too tight?

 

The belt should be properly tensioned - IF the tensioner is working correctly.

If you got any antifreeze on the belt/pulleys it can cause a squeak.

Don't use "belt conditioner" or anything on a serpentine belt.

 

Is there anyway to tell if the tensioner is working right?

I'll look again if any made its way onto the belt.

 

There are marks on the tensioner and the tensioner housing you can use.

 

Just did a water pump on a car and it had the little grinding noise but was not leaking. Took it off and the thing came apart in 2 peices

 

Is it leaking from the weep hole? My water pump is gone...it just whines right now, but if I grab the fam, I can wiggle it a good amount

 

Where is the hole on these pumps?

The fan has absolutely no play in it what so ever just FYI.