Can a Bad Water Pump Cause No Heat? (All You Need to Know)

The water pump is one of the most crucial parts of a heating system. Without a properly functioning water pump, the heating system might fail to do its job.

So knowing every little detail about a water pump is necessary for the well-being of your heating system. Today, we are going to discuss and find out whether a bad water pump can cause no heat or not.

Can a bad water pump cause no heat?

A water pump fails to produce any sort of heat when it becomes faulty. Basically, the flow of coolant to the heater core from the water pump gets interrupted in case of a faulty water pump. The heater core can not create any heat inside the engine without the coolant.

A good water pump is a necessary feature of a car engine. Because the water pump is really crucial for the overall performance of the engine as it saves the engine from overheating by providing coolant.

But a water pump fails to perform its actions when it develops leaks and cracks on it. A faulty water pump is not able to supply the much-needed coolant to the heater core and the engine.

However, the important thing to remember here is that a faulty water pump can be easily repaired or replaced. A

 healthy water pump can maintain the optimum temperature of the engine and the heating system effectively. Water pump is an integral part of the engine and the heating system relies on it heavily.

Will a bad water pump cause my heater not to work?

A good water pump is required for the functional activities of your heating system. If the water pump of the heating system becomes faulty or bad, then the heater can not work properly.

First of all, the water pump is tasked with the job of providing coolant to the heater core.

When the heater core does not receive adequate amount of coolant due to a faulty water pump, it can not do the functions of a heating system. The heating system needs a high amount of coolant for it to work properly.

So a healthy water pump is necessary for the optimum performance of the heating system.

The heating system can not maintain the heat inside its system if the water pump becomes faulty and fails to supply a sufficient amount of coolant to the heater core. A bad water pump needs to be fixed for the heating system to work again properly.

3 reasons why a bad water pump cause no heat

There are a lot of reasons why a bad water pump causes no heat at all. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.

Lack of coolant:

The primary job of the water pump is to supply required amount of coolant to the heater core. When the heater core does not receive the required coolant, it fails to produce heat needed for the function of the heating system.

Coolant is an important part of the heating system as it is crucial in maintaining the level of temperature in the heating system.

So if there is a lack of coolant in the entire heating system because of a faulty water pump, then the heating system will fail to conclude its general functions.

Lack of hot water:

Along with the coolant, the water pump also does the job of supplying hot water into different parts of the water. For example, the window defroster uses the hot water provided by the water pump to do its job in cold weather.

If the water becomes faulty and it can not provide hot water to the window defrost, then it will not be able to produce any heat whatsoever.

Lack of primary purpose:

A bad water pump can not do the job of a healthy water pump. It is as simple as that. The water pump and the heating system work hand in hand to maintain the temperature inside the engine.

If the water pump fails to collect hot coolant and hot water from the engine, then the engine will overheat and the heating system will fail to use the heat as a result.

The water pump does a great balancing act between the engine and the heating system.

Without a properly functioning water pump, both the engine and the heating system will face difficulties to do their job. In this case, a good water pump is the missing part in the puzzle.

How do I know if my thermostat or water pump is bad?

Knowing if your thermostat or water pump is bad can be a difficult task if you have no prior experience regarding the matter.

However, you can look for some symptoms to diagnose a bad thermostat or a bad water pump. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.

Signs of overheated engine:

The water pump is responsible for carrying the excessive hot water and coolant from your engine to the heating system.

The heating system then circulates this coolant and hot water back into the engine in a manner that maintains the optimum temperature of the engine.

But if the water pump or thermostat becomes faulty, then the engine starts to overheat due to lack of coolant.

The car engine fails to maintain its performance when it becomes overheated. An overheated engine is a clear symptom of a faulty water pump or thermostat.

Worn out parts:

The faulty water pump by overheating the engine will cause the other parts of the engine to wear out.

For example, you will notice several cracks on the engine block due to the overheating issue. The engine cylinders will also develop crack on them as a result of an overheating engine.

Gaskets will also come under pressure because of an overheated engine. Other parts of the engine that could wear as a result of a faulty water pump include pistons too.

Leaking coolant:

One of the alarming signs of a faulty water pump or thermostat is when the coolant starts leaking through the water pump. You will notice the coolant leaking from several points of the water pump such as seal and gasket.

Corrosion and rust:

A faulty water pump will reveal its state by showing signs of corrosion and rust on it. The coolant also starts leaking through the holes created by corrosion and rust. Build up of corrosion and rust is a definite sign of a faulty water pump or thermostat.

Strange noises:

Strange noises can be heard from the area of the water pump when it becomes faulty. The pitch of the noise will be very high and will be detected emitting from the engine.

This noise is usually caused by faulty parts of the water pump and can be taken as a sign of a faulty water pump or thermostat.

Can a water pump be repaired?

A water pump is a critical part of the car engine. It maintains the flow of coolant and hot water throughout the engine and the heating system.

But it can go bad for a number of reasons. But the important thing to remember here is that it is very easy to repair a faulty water pump and does not cause too much trouble.

Repairing the water pump might cost you somewhere between one hundred to two hundred dollars depending on the seriousness of the damage. The repairing cost will be even less if you can do the work yourself.

How to fix a bad water pump causing no heat?

Fixing a bad water pump causing no heat can appear as a hard task if you have not done it previously. However, there are some steps and methods you can follow to pull off the task. Let’s discuss in detail about them.

Inspect the condition:

First of all, you will need to look at the user manual to find out the exact location of the water pump on the car.

After that, you will need to visually inspect the water pump for leaks and cracks. If the condition of the water pump looks repairable, then you will need to prepare yourself for the process.

Seal the cracks and holes:

The water pump can develop leaks and cracks for several reason. But the main reason for this is rust and corrosion.

So you will have to clean your faulty water pump thoroughly before you begin the repairing. Finally, you can use effective sealant such as JB weld to fill up the cracks and holes on the water pump.

If the water pump does not appear repairable, then you will need to replace it yourself or by a mechanic.

Final Thoughts

A bad water pump does not possess the ability to help the heater core produce heat. It results in the overheating of the engine. The water pump can develop cracks and leaks on it which will result in the loss of coolant. This makes the job difficult for the heating system.