A car's engine generates a great deal of heat as the pistons move up and down and valves open and close. This heat can build up, increase and destroy some of the interior parts of the engine. To counter this, it is necessary to have a system that cools these areas of the vehicle. The water pump in a 1996 Honda Accord circulates the water and coolant to these parts of the engine. Occasionally, the water pump needs to be replaced due to normal wear and tear.
Drain the water and coolant from the radiator by removing the drain plug located underneath the radiator. Set a bucket underneath the hole to catch the coolant and water mixture, remove the drain plug and then remove the fill plug on the radiator. The vehicle must be cool to the touch before you remove the radiator cap or drain plug. You could injure yourself or damage the engine. Clean up any spills immediately as the sweet-smelling antifreeze may induce animals to eat it. Antifreeze is toxic and can kill pets.
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the negative battery terminal. Set the cable where it cannot touch metal. You will be unplugging electrical components and will need to prevent an accidental short in the electrical system.
Inspect the water pump while it is still in place for indications of leakage. These indications will be stains that will seep from the area around the pump gasket or any seams in the pump. These leaks mean that it is the actual pump that has become defective. There may be problems with a broken or bent fan or fan clutch that would damage even a new water pump if installed.
Loosen the tensioner on the timing belt with a ratchet. Honda recommends replacing the timing belt any time another component that is run by the belt is being replaced. Failure to do so can result in a damaged water pump. Carefully remove the timing belt over and around the pulleys and gears it operates and set it aside.
Remove the parts necessary to get to the water pump. For the 1996 Honda Accord, this includes the fan, the plastic covering over the fan called the shroud, shaft spacers and the viscous drive clutch. Use a ratchet and appropriately sized socket to loosen the bolts of these parts in a criss-cross pattern beginning from the center and going outward. Remove the electrical connectors by simply pushing in the lock tab and pulling.
Unbolt the water pump from the engine block and carefully lift the pump. The thin metal piece located under the pump is the old gasket. Typically, these old gaskets have cracked and rusted to the point of becoming stuck in the grooves of the water pump. Stuff the hole vacated by the water pump with a clean rag to prevent broken off pieces of this gasket from falling into the cooling system. Scrape the remnants of old gasket from the connecting hole and discard them.
Coat the new gasket with waterproof sealer and slip it into place under the new water pump. Bolt the new water pump and gasket into place using a staggering pattern until they are tight. You do this to help prevent premature cracking or breakage of the new gasket and pump.
Reinstall all parts you removed in the reverse order in which you removed them. Bolt them in using a criss-cross pattern to prevent damaging these parts. Reconnect the electrical connectors to each part your removed them from. Install the new timing belt over the gears and pulleys you removed the old one from.
Replace the drain plug and fill the radiator with the antifreeze and water mixture according to the directions on the antifreeze bottle. Replace the radiator cap and reattach the negative battery cable to the negative battery terminal. Start the accord and check the water pump for leaks.
