Review on 💦 Gates 42293 Water Pump: Reliable Performance and Exceptional Durability by David Hashman

I installed this on my 2004 Jeep TJ Wrangler Unlimited (LJ) and it worked as advertised. Mine had a metal (aluminum) impeller. The standard unit that lasted 113,000 miles had a plastic impeller. I also bought a Fel-Pro water pump seal. I used thread sealant and torqued all the bolts to specification and in the correct order. I used a paper towel to fill the hole where the impeller enters the motor. This is to keep dirt out as you will need to scrape off all the old gasket material. I used a scraper with a new blade. Be careful not to scratch the motor metal. Take your time and do a good job or you will likely have leaks. When you take out the handkerchief, be careful not to get dirt inside. You can pull it out or use a wet/dry vacuum if necessary, but foreign objects should not get inside the motor. Note. If you do it yourself, you will need to remove the fan blade and fan clutch. The fan requires a special tool to remove the fan, but I was able to use a "monkey" (pipe) wrench instead. If I do it again I will get the right tool. The coupling must be removed from the old pump and bolted to the new pump. I reused the original screws with no problems. You will also need to disconnect the upper radiator hose from the radiator and remove the serpentine belt. Also, you will need a ratchet or breaker to release the tension on the belt. There is a small square hole in the "belt tensioner" that keeps the belt taut. After everything is installed and connected, you need to top up the coolant. I used a Zerex G05 as it is the type specified by Mopar. You can get a 50/50 pre-mixed coolant or a full strength that you have to mix yourself depending on where you live and the time of year. I live in South Florida so 50/50 is perfect year round. Only use distilled water when mixing your own. Took me about 4 hours to travel from start to finish. I'm not a mechanic but I always triple check my job and use the Chilton manual, jeep and youtube forums to figure out how to do this repair. Use the manual for all your torque specifications. Always dress properly. Never guess! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer them.