The cost of replacing the water pump on your Pontiac depends on the model. The age of your car could affect the cost as well.

In addition, there are two types of water pumps: belt-driven and electric. Typical belt-driven water pumps aren’t that expensive, but electric ones can get pricey, which will obviously drive up the cost. Your Pontiac owner’s manual should be able to tell you which kind you have.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some water pumps are easier to get to than others. The more your engine needs to be disassembled to access the water pump, the higher the labor costs.

Taking all these points into consideration, you can expect to pay anywhere from $375 to $787 (including parts and labor). Of course, shopping around to get a few quotes is your best bet to get the best deal.

For more water pump information, read our article Does My Car Need a New Water Pump?

Modern Pontiac water pumps are pretty robust. They can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ for many years. But there’s still a chance they can fail.

Typically, a bearing on the pump may go bad or the pump develops a leak. If so, this can cause serious damage to your car’s engine. Luckily, there are a few ways to know that your water pump may be failing:

• Puddles of green coolant on the ground
• High-temperature readings from the water temperature gauge
• A low-pitched grinding sound from the engine
• Water leaks from the front of the engine

If you notice any of these symptoms, see your Pontiac mechanic as soon as you can before your water pump fails altogether.

If the water pump on your Pontiac is leaking, you have an issue. How major of an issue depends on the severity of the leak.

Water pumps typically leak from two different places: the shaft seal or the water pump gasket. Either way, there is something wrong and your water pump needs to be replaced.

There are some stop-leak products out there that you pour directly into your radiator that can (possibly) seal or slow the leak. If you go this route, keep in mind these products are only a temporary fix and not a permanent solution.

In short, if your water pump is leaking, we recommend taking it to your Pontiac mechanic to have it replaced. Your engine will thank you.

Replacing the water pump on your Pontiac can either be a simple effort or a long, difficult process. It all depends on your model, it’s age, and where the water pump is located.

On some engines, the water pump is easily accessible. On others, it can be hidden under a tangle of other engine components. If that’s the case you, may need to remove the radiator, hoses, pulleys and a myriad of other parts to get to it. You might even need special tools for the job.

If you’re a competent DIY-er and your water pump is more readily accessible, it is possible to replace your own water pump. But to be on the safe side, replacing a water pump is a job usually best left to a professional Pontiac mechanic.

Your water pump is the heart of your engine’s cooling system, constantly circulating fluid throughout your engine keeping everything running smoothly. If it fails, you’ve got a problem.

When the water pump on your Pontiac starts to go, look for these signs:

• Puddles of green coolant on the ground
• High-temperature readings from the water temperature gauge
• A low-pitched grinding sound from the engine
• Water leaks from the front of the engine

Now, if your water pump fails altogether, the signs to look for are:

• Smoke or steam coming from your radiator
• Engine overheating
• Irregular temperature gauge

When your water pump fails, no coolant is circulating, allowing your engine to heat up very quickly. This will cause your engine to overheat, and you don’t want to get to that point.

So when you notice the first signs of possible water pump failure, we recommend taking it to your Pontiac mechanic right away and getting it replaced.