What are symptoms of a bad water pump?

One of the most commonly seen symptoms that a car's water pump may be bad is puddling of water or coolant underneath the vehicle. An overheating engine may mean earlier signs were missed or ignored.

A vehicle's water pump is one of its most important parts, and no matter how well the vehicle is maintained over the years, it is destined to fail at some point. Responsible for pumping coolant through the engine, the water pump is exposed continually to extreme temperatures and grueling work. Coolant leaks and fluctuating engine temperatures indicate something may be wrong with the water pump and necessitate immediate evaluation by a car care professional.