What does a water pump do?

Your car’s water pump is responsible for circulating the engine coolant around the cooling system. It is located in the engine bay and is usually powered from the engine drive belt.

Mini

Mini is a British automotive marque that has been owned by the German multinational vehicle manufacturer BMW since 2000.

The Mini brand was originally introduced in 1969 when the vehicle model became a marque in its own right, breaking away from the Austin and Morris brands under the British Leyland umbrella.

How popular is Mini in the United Kingdom?

The Mini Hatch was the 7th best selling car of 2018 in the UK. Mini is a consistent favourite among buyers with a leaning for British cultural icons and retro styling.

There are around 750k Mini cars on the roads, showing that the brand is still as popular as ever due to their compact sizing, attractive styling and its reputation as a classy and classic small car.

Mini: a premium product of British motoring

With its unique and unmistakable styling, Mini is firmly placed as a premium product. Its ownership by BMW has added advantages in production, by being able to lean on the executive luxury German marque for many of the advanced technological systems and specialist industry knowledge used in their manufacture.

A piece of British culture and a Hollywood star

Enhancing its popularity as a household name, the original British Mini became a star of the silver screen when it appeared predominantly in the gold-heist movie ‘The Italian Job’ in 1969, starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward. With a remake hitting the screens in 2003, the new Mini was called on to star once again, and a selection of Mini hatch models continued the tradition by featuring in the film.

Mini: a new competitor to the most popular 3-door hatchbacks

Despite its small footprint, the Mini hatch is providing real competition to the Audi A1 and VW Polo due to its premium quality build. And with the weight of BMW behind them, it’s easy to see why.

How often should a water pump need replacing?

Due to the importance of their operation, water pumps are often replaced before they fail. It is recommended that a water pump be replaced between 60k and 90k miles of operation. It is also advisable that the timing belt, idler pulleys, and tensioner be replaced at the same time.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

An obviously leaking water pump will fail an MOT. A very slight drip or suspected leak may cause an advisory measure, which given the impact a leaking water pump can have on the engine, it should be checked and replaced straight away.

What happens when we replace your water pump?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will inspect the water pump and cooling system, including a possible pressure test to detect any leaks.

• Wherever required your water pump will be replaced and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from its malfunction.

• You will also be advised of any other affected parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.

• Once the faulty water pump has been replaced, our mechanics will test it thoroughly to ensure its correct operation and make any adjustments required for trouble-free performance.

What causes a water pump to stop working correctly?

A water pump and its components can wear out over time. This may result in leaking or a reduced pumping capacity. It is imperative that your water pump operates correctly, as failure to pump coolant through your engine can cause engine overheating and irreparable damage to your engine.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning water pump

Fluid underneath the engine

If there are patches or puddles of fluid on the floor beneath your engine, it could be a leaking water pump.

Fluid in the engine bay

If you spot fluid leaking around the water pump in the engine bay, then your water pump may be damaged.

The car won’t start

If your car doesn’t start, it could be due to failed water pump operation.

The engine temperature is high

If the temperature gauge reads higher than normal or your engine is overheating, it could be caused by a malfunctioning water pump.

The engine temperature warning light is illuminated

Any dashboard warning light is an indicator that a sensor has detected an incorrect operation. An engine temperature warning could be related to your water pump.