The water pump on your KIA Sportage moves coolant though the engine. If your water pump is damaged it can seriously affect the performance of your engine. A damaged water pump should be replaced before the vehicle is driven. You can purchase a replacement pump from your local auto parts store.
Raise the hood of the KIA and locate the battery. Disconnect the positive and negative cables.
Drain all of the coolant from the radiator and engine assembly. If you do not do this it will result in a large mess when you disconnect the hoses and the pump.
Use a screwdriver to remove the mounting screws from the lower splash shield. Remove the shield from the vehicle. Disconnect both the air duct and fan by removing the screws which hold them in place.
Use a socket wrench to remove the tension bolt which is fixed to the alternator. This is the bolt that attaches the alternator to its bracket. Once the bracket is disconnect you will be able to slide the belt off the alternator. Remove the mounting bolt on the bottom of the alternator. Lift the alternator clear of the assembly. If you are struggling to move it on your own, have help on hand to aid in the lifting process.
Remove the coolant reservoir and radiator hoses from the engine assembly. On most Sportage models the coolant reservoir will have no mounting bolts and can be removed manually. You should be able to simply remove the hoses from the vehicle by pulling them with your hand.
Use a wrench to remove the tensioner bolts which fix the water pump in place. Lift the damaged pump out of the KIA.
Insert the new pump in the same place from which you removed the old one. Remove the old gasket and replace it with a new one at the contact point of the water pump. Fix the new part in place with the mounting bolts to a torque of 19 lbs. Place the reservoir coolant and radiator hoses back into the engine assembly by pressing them in to their connectors.
Attach the alternator to its bracket by fixing the mounting bolts in to the bottom. Attach the belt to the alternator and fix it in place with the tension bolt. Place the splash shield back on the vehicle and insert the coolant back in to the radiator. Reattach the battery terminals and turn on the engine to check that the water pump is now working correctly. Keep an eye out for leaks.
