The Airtex Educational Partnership (AEP) was started several years ago by Airtex Automotive Division as a way to merge corporate automotive expertise with technical classrooms across the United States. Welcome

Thanks to Airtex and the AEP, thousands of future technicians have gained valuable knowledge on the maintenance and installation of water pumps, fuel pumps and EFI systems. Welcome

Headquartered in Fairfield, Ill, with additional manufacturing facilities in Arkansas, England, Spain, and Mexico, Airtex Automotive is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of water pumps and fuel pumps, and is the world’s largest independent supplier of water pumps to the original equipment Market. Welcome

Function of a Water Pump Circulates coolant through engine to maintain the most efficient operating temperature range Contributes to engine management system for fuel economies T HE C OOLING S YSTEM

The Parts of a Water Pump Impeller T HE C OOLING S YSTEM Bearing assembly Unitized seal

Forces coolant through cooling system Creates flow to support pressure Impeller design varies according to engine type T HE C OOLING S YSTEM The Parts of a Water Pump Impeller

Drive belt turns bearing assembly Bearing assembly transmits energy from the drive belt to the impeller Two types of bearing assembly Ball-ball Ball-roller T HE C OOLING S YSTEM The Parts of a Water Pump Bearing Assembly

Bearing Assembly – Ball-Ball Assembly Uses for lighter bearing loads Better anti-friction qualities T HE C OOLING S YSTEM The Parts of a Water Pump

Bearing Assembly – Ball-Roller Assembly Uses for heavier bearing loads Greater amount of friction T HE C OOLING S YSTEM The Parts of a Water Pump

Fits onto shaft Separates dry areas from wet areas of pump Prevents contamination of individual seal components T HE C OOLING S YSTEM The Parts of a Water Pump Unitized Seal

Original Equipment Engineering To function properly, a water pump should match the manufacturers OE specifications as closely as possible. Airtex water pumps always look, fit and perform like the manufacturer's OE pumps. When a water pump fails, the first step is to determine why it stopped functioning. Otherwise the cause of the first failure will likely cause another. T HE C OOLING S YSTEM

Why Water Pumps Fail Contamination of the engine coolant System components failure Improper installation T HE C OOLING S YSTEM

Why Water Pumps Fail Contamination of the Engine Coolant Lack of corrosion inhibitors in coolant Wrong ratio of coolant to water Failure to flush system T HE C OOLING S YSTEM

System Components Components likely to contribute to premature failure: Fan clutches Fan blades Belts Idlers Thermostats T HE C OOLING S YSTEM Why Water Pumps Fail

Improper Installation Improper installation of coolant system components is a major contributor to premature failure. Water pumps require precise installation to function properly. Follow this sequence when installing a water pump: Always thoroughly clean the entire cooling system, engine cavity and gasket surface. Tighten any backplate bolts. Position new gaskets on the pump using sealer on both sides. T HE C OOLING S YSTEM Why Water Pumps Fail

Installation Instructions Do not strike the shaft of the new pump as you are installing it. Inspect and replace the thermostat or radiator cap if they are leaking. Inspect and replace any hoses and belts with visible defects or signs of wear. Rubber parts over four years old should always be replaced. T HE C OOLING S YSTEM

Inspect and replace any fan that has cracks, bends or loose rivets. Never straighten a bent fan. Inspect and replace any fan clutch that is excessively loose or shows a loss of oil. A bad or misaligned clutch will damage the water pump. Inspect and replace the motor mounts if there are signs of wear or splitting. Tighten any loose bolts. Installation Instructions T HE C OOLING S YSTEM

On engines without automatic tensioners, adjust belts to proper tension using a tension gauge. Refer to any manufacturer specifications, or adjust the belts for a deflection of between ½ inch to ¾ inch. Inspect and replace any defective automatic tensioners or idler pulleys. Check fan blade tip clearances to the radiator and any shroud. Check the electric cooling fan to insure it is functioning properly. Start the engine and run it until it reaches normal operating temperature. Check for smooth operation. Installation Instructions T HE C OOLING S YSTEM

Thank you Thank you for participating in the Airtex Educational Partnership. Airtex is committed to providing a quality educational tool for students and teachers in the mechanical field. Our partnership provides valuable information for the technical student and teacher and sets a standard for continual education throughout the life of technicians.

Thank you We welcome your thoughts on the presentation and hope you take time to visit our website. Your comments are valuable to the Educational Partnership. For additional information on Airtex and the products we offer, or to make comments on the Airtex Educational Partnership, visit our website at Our site is the source for cooling and fuel system information.