Q:One month ago, mechanics replaced water pump for my car, 04 dodge stratus, 100000 miles. When I went to get the car, there was big noise coming out from engine. The mechanics told me it was because of sediment in auto oil system and he show me some sediment he took out. I know little about car so I thought he was right. But now the noise changed and engine light came on. I went to firestone to check it. The report said timing jump and cranked. The second day the engine died totally. And I went to another two mechanics. They said the previous one who replaced the water pump did something wrong to timing chain. But that mechanics didn't admit it. What can I do?

You have a good case for small claims court, but you'll have to prove the facts in court, not here on yahoo. 1) Prove that the first shop changed your water pump. (I think there's a good chance that mechanic did, indeed, mess up the timing.) 2) Get something in writing from any subsequent, licensed mechanic who thinks the timing was changed. At 100,000 miles, there's a fair chance your timing chain could have been old, needing replacement, but if the first guy replaced the water pump, that seems the likeliest culprit. Worse, I hope you didn't ruin the motor. Sometimes when your motor is out of time, you can bend a valve or put a hole in the piston. Better get your motor checked by someone who knows what they're doing then consider your options- small claims or the first mechanic's insurance company. If you talk to the insurance company, you should have a lawyer do the talking. Good luck!!

Q:My Toyota 2006 Sienna has 80K miles on it and I asked the dealer to inspect the vehicle. He suggested that i replace Timing Belt, Water Pump, Drive Belt and Trans Pan Gasket. The cost of the repair comes to $1300 ($460 for Timing Belt, $350 for Water Pump, $140 for Drive Belt $370 for Pan Gasket).I'm caught by surprise with the price quoted and things to be replaced. Is the price quoted reasonable? Are these replacement common for Sienna vehicle with 80K miles? I don't know what could possibly go wrong if these are not changed for couple of months. I have an extended warranty on the vehicle for 100K miles will any of the above get covered under warranty?Any suggestions or advice is highly appreciated/

I agree with the other two- don't go to the Toyota stealership. They are heavily overpriced. The timing belt service (-which should include replacing timing belt, crankseal, cam seal, waterpump and drive belts) should be more like $600-750. The pan gasket- if you really need it done- should cost you (worst case scenario) $150. All this can be done at any independent repair shop for considerably less than the stealership. Check around though because some independents can cost you almost as much as the stealership. Also, there are shops out there with great prices that do shoddy work- but from my experience, most of the less expensive shops seem to be just as good as the stealership.

Q:95 mustang leaking water pump changed the pump and its running backward now

Check the belt diagram and make sure that the belt is on correctly; if it is on backwards fix it. If you have white smoke coming out of the exhaust that is water vapor which means that the engine has gotten too hot and you have a cracked head or a blown head gasket.

Q:I have a Miniworks EX Water filter with a ceramic filtering element. It has been used a few times without problem, but I am wondering at what point should I replace my ceramic filter? The replacements are $40 and I can't find any information regarding replacement times--only cleaning information. Does this filter need to be replaced often?I've always pumped from a clear river way up in the mountains and the flow is decent.

Could be months yet if you use good water. A filter is good for at least a thousand liters if you're careful with it. So long as the flow is good keep going. Mine is two years old, no problems. I put sterilizer through it every so often. Simple stuff, just buy Camden tablets or powder from a home wine making store or a pharmacist. Make up the solution, pump it through the filter and leave it for an hour then put tap water through it if you want. The Camden tablets are used to stop fermentation in wines and beers and to sterilize the bottles before filling. It isn't rinsed out. Just fill the bottles with the solution, empty them and fill them them with wine or beer. You drink it...it breaks down to harmless sodium sulfate and releases sulfa dioxide which does the sterilizing. Otherwise you can use ordinary household bleach if it's pure bleach with no perfumes or other bits added. A few drops in a pint of water and put it through the unit just as though you are using it normally. Leave it for an hour then run tap water through it. You can use that pure bleach for sterilizing drinking water too but it's best for hot drinks, juice concentrates, and for cooking to mask the chlorine taste. Two drops per liter of water is enough, and leave it for an hour before using. I've used both methods for over forty years of wild camping on five continents, a long malaria field survey in Malaysia, in deserts and forests and on mountains. Never a problem. We used both methods in the Army too for 500 gallon water trucks with barium sulfate filters. Good for 10 000 gallons before changing the barium sulfate. I was the medic doing lab tests on it. Have a good hike.

Q:I have a 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis vehicle. How do you know when the water pump is going. Is their any particular noise I should be hearing.

There is no noise associated with a water pump going out that I am aware of other than the engine exploding due to excessive heat. The dash guages; especially the engine temp guage, will give you a clue as to a cooling problem, whcih is what the water pump is for. The water pump prevents the engine block from overheating. When the pump fails, the engine overheats and will either shut down, or the engine will burn out. The best way to tell is to monitor the temp guage. If the engine is running hot, it either the water pump, lack of water in the cooling system, or Thermostat failure. Best to have a mechanic check it out. Cheers!

Q:I have 2004 Chevy Trailblazer V8 4x4 that the water pump went out on. Does anyone know how long it takes to change it and where it is located? The dealer wants $750.00 to fix it. I really don't want to get riped off.

Takes a special tool,you can pick one up at Autozone or Checkers for under 50 bucks, or just pull the water pump with the fan still attached and take it in for them to replace it for a small fee when you buy the water pump.

Q:How tight to a tighten down the bolts on a '86 volvo 240 water pump. The manual I bought doesn't say. The torque won't help me cause I don't have a torque wrench, so just general discription would help a lot. (I stripped the threads on a stud last time)

the pump is held on with 6mm x 100 thread pitch nuts and bolts. the best tool to use will be a 1/4 inch drive ratchet and short extension with a 10 mm deep socket [6 point] these bolts are 12-15 ft bs. of torque if you snug bolts down evenly and use only moderate pressure as a final tighten you should be alright. after srarting all bolts let pump relax so the top seal is not crushed

Q:Variable flow variable frequency water pump how to adjust the flow?

Flow plus transmitter control

Q:i want to make this for a physics project for school. i found a video on how to make it, but i dont understand the physics behind. i have to make a model and a poster explaining the physics. i dont understand what to put on the poster so could someone help me with which physics principles this project would go with?

It isn't practical to give a detailed description here. This is a positive displacement pump. The pump chamber is sealed so that as the piston is moved up the volume within the chamber increases. Water is pushed into this chamber by the outside air pressure. If the pump is located too far above the water source then the air pressure is not sufficient and you will produce a vacuum inside but the water still will not flow. When the pump is pushed down the water flows out. Now the one way valves are critical. We don't want the water to flow back the way it came and we don't want the water that we have already pumped to flow back into the pump. So a one way valve on the inlet will permit water to flow into the pump but not out of it. And a one way valve on the outlet will permit water to flow OUT of the pump but not into it. So with each stroke you a) reduce the pressure in the pump. b) water is forced from the inlet, past its one way valve and then into the pump. c) the pump is pushed down increasing the pressure in the pump. d) water flows out of the pump through the other one way valve and on to the output.

Q:I have a 99 Olds Intrigue With the 3.8L (Vin K) engine. I have a belt driven water pump, but i was wondering if there is a fuse or relay that is associated with this water pump. I remember knocking a fuse out on accident while changing my radiator and now the water pump appears to not be working

First no fuse for water pump only fuse and relay for rad. fan. First did you install serpentine belt correctly, should have diagram on rad. cover. If on right pump should work. if overheating could have bad thermostat or system needs bleeding, start, turn on heater and see if top hose on rad gets hot if not therm bad, replace, if hot look on top of thermostat housing for small bleeder screw crack open until coolant comes out then tighten,on some if there is a heater line on engine by radiator bleeder is on it. keep rad cap on till done, then remove slowly to release pressure and fill with coolant , GOOD luck.