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.

Renault

Groupe Renault is a French multinational automobile manufacturer, established over 120 years ago in 1899.

How popular is Renault in the United Kingdom?

This French marque has around 1.4million vehicles on the road in the UK today. Their numbers peaked between 2007 and 2008 at over 2million vehicles, yet have been on a slow decline ever since.

Sensibly priced options for middle of the road vehicles

Renault makes a wide-ranging selection of respectable vehicles.

As you’ll find with most manufacturers in today’s market, the cream of their crop lies with their SUV models. Other stand-outs are the RS models built for a much more fun driving experience and the electric models that are also sitting impressively in a steadily growing market.

Renault: a constant contender in all manner of motorsports

In the 1970s, Renault set up a dedicated motorsport division that went on to take the winners title in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1978, with the Renault Alpine A442. They have been competing and achieving successes in both rallying and Formula One ever since.

Renault Formula One

Renault debuted their first formula one car (and team) at Silverstone in 1977; it was the first of its kind to include a turbo engine. The team continued until 1986 and shortly after, in 1989, they began to supply engines to the successful Williams-Renault car.

The Benetton team was renamed Renault F1 in 2002, and the team went on to win the constructors championship in both 2005 and 2006 with Spaniard Fernando Alonso at the wheel.

More recently, Renault powered the winning Red Bull Racing team in 2010 and returned to racing as a team in their own right, from the 2016 season onwards.

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.