# Replacing the water pump in my Dodge Ram **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-the-water-pump-in-my-dodge-ram/331957 "2005-11-20T18:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-the-water-pump-in-my-dodge-ram/331957/1 "2005-11-20T18:01:26Z")
Anyone know where I can find instructions online that might help me replace the water pump in a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 (5.4 V8 engine), or has anyone here ever done this who could help walk me through the process\> ---
**Author:** ![ombre3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@ombre3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-the-water-pump-in-my-dodge-ram/331957/2 "2005-11-20T23:26:57Z")
> [@batsto](#): > > Anyone know where I can find instructions online that might help me replace the water pump in a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 (5.4 V8 engine), or has anyone here ever done this who could help walk me through the process\> There are service books for almost any vehicle. Can buy them at any auto parts store. Chiltons. Haynes. Cost maybe $!5. If you plan to do your own work on your car------pay the lousy $15 and buy a service manual. They aren’t perfect and they do contain mistakes and omissions. But they can do much better than we can. ---
**Author:** ![ombre3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@ombre3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-the-water-pump-in-my-dodge-ram/331957/3 "2005-11-20T23:34:42Z")
> [@ombre3](#): > > There are service books for almost any vehicle. Can buy them at any auto parts store. Chiltons. Haynes. Cost maybe $!5. > > If you plan to do your own work on your car------pay the lousy $15 and buy a service manual. > > They aren’t perfect and they do contain mistakes and omissions. > > But they can do much better than we can. I’ve got to change the water pump on my 72 Dodge Dart with 318. Also have to change the starter on my 83 Buick with 4.1. Both of them terrible, knuckle busting, time consuming, make you wanna cry from frustrations jobs. Keep putting them off. I wish there were a book or a post on a discussion forum that could kiss it and make it better. Both just awful, dirty, time consuming and very naughty jobs. Life sucks sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-the-water-pump-in-my-dodge-ram/331957/4 "2005-11-21T01:53:49Z")
If you don’t want to buy a repair manual, visit your local library. Mine has repair manuals covering most cars sold in the US the past 40 years and it only costs 10 cents a page to make copies to take home. There are forums that may give you the info you want but I have found the info to be not that reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-the-water-pump-in-my-dodge-ram/331957/5 "2005-11-21T15:46:36Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Disconnect the negative battery cable, > > 2. Drain the coolant > > 3. Remove the serpentine belt(fan belt.Note the way the belt comes off,should be a diagram under the hood. > > 4. Remove the cooling fan and fan shroud assembly.And water pump pulley on gasoline engines. > > 5. Detach the coolant hoses from the water pump on gasoline models. Note:The coolant return hose on v-6 and v-8 models is connected to a tube in the water pump. The tube is O-ring sealed and is held in by a tab and bolt.Remove the bolt and pull the tube from the pump. > > 6. Remove the water pump bolts and detach the pump. It may be necessary to tap the pump with a soft-face hammer to break the gasket seal. > > 7. Clean the sealing surface of all remaining gasket material,wipe with a rag saturated with laquer thinner or acetone. > > 8. On v-6 and v-8 models,apply a thin layer of r.t.v.sealant to both sides of the new gasket. > > 9. Install the gasket on the water pump.Apply petroleum jelly to the new o-ring to hold it in place during installation. > > 10. Place the water pump in position and install the bolts finger tight. Use caution to make sure the gasket doesn’t slip out of position. Tighten the bolts to the right torque(gasoline engines 30 ft-lbs. > Then install the hoses and hose clamps,Install the drive belt,Install the cooling fan and fan shroud,Add coolant to the specified level,Reconnect the battery cable. Start the engine and check for leaks. [Found that bit here.](http://experts.about.com/q/777/3844986.htm)