Ford 4.6 water pump

[Jimmy9190]

I am inspecting my girlfriend's mothers car today before she heads back up to Ohio in 2 weeks. I noticed a chirping sound when it is idling, it makes the noise once about every 7 or 8 seconds. I took the belt off, it is worn and I'll replace it. The pulleys all spin freely by hand with no noise or rough feeling. But the water pump pulley, when I spin it by hand has this odd sort of scraping sound. Doesn't really sound like a bad bearing, just sounds like a metal shaft turning in a metal cylinder and scraping the insdide of the cylinder. I can see the pulley shaft turning, through the side of the water pump. Is this a normal noise on a Ford or is she looking at a new water pump soon? It's a 2001 Crown Vic with just over 100,000 miles on it.

I will freely admit I am not familiar with Fords, so any info is much appreciated.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Is this a grinding sort of noise? What is the coolant like? Did you check for free play?

 

[Falcon_LS]

By the way, I know a lot of people will say "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and the coolant pumps on these engines do tend to last a long time - but if you're not feeling comfortable just replace it. It's an easy task on this motor, and the part isn't all that costly. Might as well do a coolant flush with Motorcraft Premium Gold whilst you're at it, and replace the thermostat and radiator cap. Make sure all the hoses that the coolant runs through are in decent condition as well.

 

[dishdude]

Sure sounds like the bearing on the water pump is on it's way out.

 

[Jimmy9190]

New belt cured the chirping noise. GF's mother did not have the time for a new water pump today. There was no wobble or free play that I could notice in the water pump shaft, I have just never seen one have that kind of noise before. It was not really a grinding sound, it was more like a warble. Coolant looks to be in good shape and has been changed recently. It also had the transmission fluid and the oil changed a few weeks ago too. It has a good solid 14.20 volts at the battery with the engine running and the car looks to be in fine shape, no leaks, cracked or swollen hoses or any other problems I could find on it.

 

[JustinH]

Get a turkey baster, and suck the fluid out of the power steering, and refill it with Mercon V ATF.

Do this a few times a month until it comes out red.

The fluid on these cars gets burned up, and causes the pump to make chirping sounds also.