Hi, So yesterday was the first time I have worked on a car. I need help, I need to take the water pump out to replace it and well it seems like I first need to take many parts off before I can take off the water pump. Before I started working on my 2004 mustang I read a lot about it and I think I am doing it wrong. I have read many post and due to the fact I have never really touched a car before now it would be great if I could get more in-depth description on how to remove it... I thought I only had to unscrew 8 bolts total. I don't know, any advice would be great! I am learning

 

Pick up the factory service manual for your year/model car. It has step by step instructions for pretty much everything you can do to a vehicle, including replacing the water pump. It will pay for itself with this job alone. Stay away from the cheap Chilton's & Haynes manuals. They are the shop manual equivalent of Cliff-Notes.

Another item that is invaluable is a ft/lbs torque wrench. The service manual will have the torque values for each bolt. It is important that you get install them at the correct torque spec otherwise you run the risk of the bolt backing out over time, leaks etc etc.

 

what other service manual is there and the only ones i found wher haynes and ciltones? even ford had haynes books which really suck compared to ciltons. whered you find a better book?

 

If you go to the dealer parts department and ask for the shop manual, they will point you to http://www.helminc.com/helm/search_s...lm&class_2=FRD

Service Manual is under "Shop/Service Information" in the popup. They have paperback, CD & Online options. You can also search ebay for a used manual.

 

So an update on my car... I was able to change my water pump and the thermostat!!! I rented a pulley remover at auto zone for a deposit of $40. It took me one day to figure everything out because bolts and the pulley were difficult to get off Thanks for the help!

 

congrats!

haha timing belt and water pump goes together by the way. since you're familar w/ the water pump now, maybe next time you can go for the timing belt too.

typically water pump and timing belt get changed at the same time b/c you have all the parts out already. (dont know if this is true for our cars.)

 

The 3.8 liter is a single cam motor, no belt, it's chain driven. It's pretty hard to stretch a timing chain in a sixxer, but I'm sure it's happened.