How to Replace the Water Pump on a 1992 Honda Accord

The water pump on your 1992 Honda Accord cools the engine by moving coolant from the water pump through the engine block. When the water pump fails, the engine will overheat because it will not receive coolant. If this happens, you will need to replace the water pump, a repair that you should be able to do at home in about an hour, using a few basic tools.

Things You'll Need

  • Bucket
  • Socket set
  • Marker
  • Gasket scraper
  • Acetone
  • RTV sealant

Removing the Water Pump

  • Open the hood to disconnect the negative cable from the battery.

  • Place the bucket under the radiator, directly below the drain plug. Loosen the plug and drain all coolant from the engine.

  • Draw a line on the engine block and the timing belt. These lines will be used during installation to make sure you install the timing belt correctly. The timing belt is the belt closest to the engine block, and it is attached to the water pump.

  • Turn the adjuster bolts on any belts that will need to be removed to access the timing belt. To do this, turn the bolts counterclockwise to loosen them. Remove the drivebelts.

  • Remove the timing belt from the pulley system.

  • Loosen the four bolts on the water pump. They are located along the top and bottom of the water pump.

  • Pull the water pump from the engine block. Compare the old water pump to the new one to be sure they are identical.

  • Remove the O-ring from the engine block. Use a gasket scraper and acetone to make sure you remove all residue from the O-ring and the gasket sealant.

Installing the Water Pump

  • Place a thin coat of RTV sealant in the groove on the engine block where the new O-ring will go.

  • Install the new O-ring into the groove on the engine block where you will be installing the new water pump.

  • Install the new water pump onto the engine block and replace the water pump bolts. Tighten the water pump bolts to 108 in.-lbs., using a torque wrench. Turn the torque wrench a 1/4 turn at a time to avoid over-torquing the bolts and damaging the water pump.

  • Replace the timing belt, making sure the marks on the belt and the engine block line up. Once this belt is in place, the rest of the belts can be replaced. Tighten all belts.

  • Fill the radiator with coolant before starting the engine. Do not place the cap on the radiator until you have run the engine at its normal operating temperature and allowed any air bubbles to escape through the radiator.