Replacing the water pump in the Mitsubishi Galant is not difficult. You can change it yourself in your driveway, and save a great deal of money on labor costs charged at the repair garages. You want to check the minor things first, such as the thermostat and coolant levels. Once you have determined for sure that you need to replace the water pump, it is important that you do it as soon as possible, to prevent further damage to the engine such as a blown head gasket.
Pop the hood on the Mitsubishi and disconnect the negative battery cable. Make sure the engine is completely cool before you start. Place a drain pan under the radiator and open the valve with a wrench to drain the engine coolant into the pan. Remove the engine under cover using a wrench to remove the bolts.
Mark the proper placement and direction of the timing belt using the marking crayon. Remove the tension adjuster from the timing belt using a wrench. Remove the bracket from the alternator using a socket and ratchet. Remove the water pump retaining bolts using a socket and ratchet.
Pull the water pump from the engine. Remove and discard the o-ring. Clean any remaining gasket material from the engine block using the scraper tool. Place a new gasket and o-ring on the mounting surface. Put the new water pump in place on the engine block and tighten the bolts with the socket and ratchet.
Install the brace on the alternator and tighten the bolts with a socket and ratchet. Install the timing belt tensioner and tighten it with the wrench. Make sure the belt is going in the proper direction and is lined up according to the markings you made when taking the tensioner off the engine.
Install the engine under cover and tighten the bolts with the wrench. Make sure the valve on the bottom of the radiator is closed. Refill the radiator and reservoir with engine coolant. Connect the negative battery cable and tighten the terminal nut with a wrench. Start the Mitsubishi and check thoroughly for leaking.
