Caravan water pump replacement

I'm confused about the service manual's explanation of how to remove
the water pump pulley and water pump from my 2006 Caravan. The manual
states "NOTE: To remove the water pump pulley, it MUST first be
positioned between water pump housing and drive hub. The pulley can
then be removed with the water pump assembly". I'm having a hard time
trying to understand what is being said here.

 

I replaced a water pump on my 2004 Town and country last year, and if
I remember correctly the pulley will slip over the hub of the water
pump if you turn the pulley after removing the bolts. The hub on the
pump is not round. Remove the pulleys bolts and you will see what I am
talking about.

The problem I had on my 2004 was not having enough clearance to remove
and replace the pump after removing all of the bolts. I finally got a
reply from a mechanic, and he said to pry the engine to the left side
by placing a pry bar between body and engine. moving the engine approx
1/2 inch will allow removal of the pump. Pry on a bolt, do not pry on
the housing.

 

WOW! The light just went on. I finally understand how the pulley will
end up between
the housing and the hub. Thank you. How did prying the engine work out
for you?
Does the engine move fairly easy with a big pry bar? Thanks again.

Ken

 

Didn't have much problem. I used a block of wood between a bolt head
and the pry bar. Be careful not to let off on the pry bar pressure
when putting the new pump back in, it may damage the impeller on the
pump. Good Luck!

 

Had the same exact problem. Not enough clearance to take the pump out.
If you didn't mention about prying the engine, this would have been a
show stopper. Even with prying, it still was a headache to get the
damn pump in or out. But after 3 hours of putzin around everything is
good now. Our local Dodge dealer wanted $411.82 + tax. Water pump from
Autozone was $39.00. Now for a beer or three.

 

Ooh - hopefully it isn't one of those typical aftermarket pumps that is
known for failing after a year or two (lifetime warranty means only that
they'll keep replacing it - you've still got to expend that labor -
doesn't necessarily mean that they designed it to last very long).

 

actually one auto zone i know off is known for only given you 3 replacements
then sending you out the door with your money back and telling you not to
come back. hopefully they don't all act that way but they are known for
miss boxing and miss labeling parts. and what's bad is they now own
ALLDATA.

 

"Built too (damn) fast, Duralast!" lol

 

Actually that's the merciful thing for them to do - tough love. When
the third alternator in 1-1/2 years crapped out on an Advance alternator
I had put in a Cadillac I used to have, *I* insisted that they give me
my money back. Went to NAPA and paid a little more for their rebuilt -
never had a problem with that one.

--
Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

yeah buddy back home put 3 in his sons camaro, first one bad bearing noise,
2nd no charge, 3rd locked up solid.