How to Install a Water Pump in a Mercury Villager

You can prevent one of the major causes of engine overheating in your Mercury Villager with regular leak inspections. This includes checking your water pump. An occasional drip is no cause for alarm, but a drizzle means its time for a replacement. A leaking water pump can cause overheating and major engine damage, so replace it at the first signs of failing.

Instructions

Preparing the Mercury Villager

1

Place a drop cloth underneath the Mercury Villager to protect the floor or ground from coolant spills. Coolant is toxic so dispose of it properly and wipe up any spills immediately.

2

Designate an area to lay out each part alongside its bolts and connecting hoses and wires. Some of the parts will have traces of grease and coolant, so you may need a drop cloth here, as well.

3

Open the hood and use a screwdriver to unscrew the clamp that connects the negative battery cable to the battery post. Remove the cable.

4

Use a jack to elevate the Mercury Villager and jack stands to support the car. Alternately, drive it up on tire ramps for added convenience.

5

Discharge the pressure in the radiator by slowly opening the radiator cap. Then, remove the cap completely and take out the drain plug located underneath the radiator. Catch the coolant in a resealable container.

Removing the Water Pump

6

Lower the vehicle. Use the adjustable wrench to undo the bolts securing the Mercury Villager's radiator hoses, fan shroud, drive belts and water pump pulley.

7

Raise the Villager back up with the jack and jack stands. Remove the inner and outer engine and transmission splash shields, using an adjustable wrench and screwdriver. There will be five bolts and two screws on the inside, four bolts and two screws on the outside.

8

Use the strap wrench to remove the crankshaft and adjustable wrench to remove the crankshaft bolt. Take the pulley off the crankshaft with a crankshaft damper remover. Remove the lower engine front cover.

9

Make a notation on where the six water pump bolts are located. The new bolts will need to correspond with the current configuration. One of these bolts is the stud bolt. Remove the water pump.

10

Remove the gasket, which may be in pieces on both the water pump and the engine. Wipe the pieces away with a clean shop rag, if possible, or scrape them away with the chisel, if needed.

Installing the New Pump

11

Position the new gasket onto the Mercury Villager's new water pump. Place a bead of high temperature automotive sealant around the area where you removed the old pump and hold the gasket in place on the new water pump, as you mount the entire assembly on top of the sealant.

12

Tighten the bolts with a torque wrench to 12 to 15 foot pounds torque, using your notes to replace the bolts in the right configuration. Use the strap wrench to replace the water pump pulley, using 12 to 15 foot pounds torque.

13

Install and tighten the engine covers to 27 to 44 foot pounds torque. Use the strap wrench to hold the crankshaft while you tighten its pulley bolt to 90 to 98 foot pounds torque. Install the rest of the parts in the order removed.

14

Replace the radiator's drain plug and refill the radiator with the amount and type of coolant specified in your owner's manual. Move the jack stands and release the jack.

15

Attach the negative battery cable to the post and tighten the screw on the clamp. Crank the engine on the Mercury Villager and check for leaks. Then, close the hood.