Maintaining a 15 or 16-year-old car can save you money over buying a new car. It is no mystery that old cars exhibit the wear and tear we put on them, but there are parts available to replace those that go bad and will help keep your car running despite the hundreds of thousands of miles on it. Repairing the problem yourself will keep money in your pocket and your car lasting longer. The 1994 Honda Accord is no exception. Replacement of the water pump is a common problem on this vehicle.
Turn the car off and disconnect the negative battery cable before turning the engine so that the timing marks align with each other. Have a friend help you with this process. Once turned, set the first cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke. Do not attempt to move or shift the engine after this has been done.
Place an empty container beneath the pump and drain the engine coolant, wiping up excess and spills immediately and cap the container.
Carefully remove the splash shield and timing belt. If you do not have experience on how to do this, ask a professional or consult your owner's manual. The process is time consuming and critical to replacing the water pump.
Remove the bolts securing the water pump in place and make note of which bolts go where so that you can make sure to reinsert them correctly on the new pump.
Lift the water pump and O-ring out of the engine and perform any necessary cleaning or flushing before installing the new pump.
Reinsert the O-ring and the new water pump and then tighten down the mounting bolts to fasten the pump into place. Make sure the O-ring does not slide or warp during this process. Mounting bolts should be tightened to 9 ft. lbs. If you have the V-6 engine, then the 8mm bolts should be tightened to 16 ft. lbs and the 6mm bolts should be tightened to 9 ft. lbs.
Replace your timing belt, refill the coolant mixture, and reconnect the negative battery cable to complete your installation.
Check to make sure you have properly installed the water pump by turning the car on and letting the engine idle for a few minutes, checking to make sure there are no leaks or indications of the belt rubbing on the covers.
Bleed the system by letting the coolant drain from the bleeding screw until there are no bubbles. Tighten the screw back into place and shut off the engine. Replace the splash shield and clean up the bled coolant.
