The water pump is an essential piece of equipment used to circulate water and coolant throughout the engine to keep it from overheating during operation. Replacing or repairing the water pump on your Mitsubishi pickup may seem daunting; however, it is actually quite simple and can be tackled by any home mechanic.
Crawl under the front of the pickup and locate the drain plug on the passenger side of the bottom of the radiator. Unscrew the plug and allow the radiator fluid to drain into the drain pan.
Follow the coolant hoses leading back from the passenger side of the radiator toward the engine. They lead to the water pump, which is a metal bulge on the side of the engine partway back along the engine compartment.
Use the screwdriver to loosen and remove the hose clamps holding the hoses to the water pump flange. Pull the hoses off of the water pump and then use the socket wrenches to loosen and remove the mounting bolts holding the water pump to the engine.
Slide the water pump out of the engine compartment and then place the new water pump on the mounting studs. Tighten down the mounting bolts and then slide the coolant hoses back onto the flange of the water pump.
Tighten the hose clamps back down to secure the hoses to the water pump and then fill the coolant system with a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Start the car up to make sure everything is functioning properly.
