What to Do if Your Subaru Stalls Due to a Faulty Water Pump

If your Subaru’s water pump fails, it may cause your vehicle to stall, in which case you’ll need to take immediate steps to protect both yourself and your vehicle. First, as soon as you notice that your engine has stalled, turn on your hazard lights and pull over to the side of the road. Follow the steps below to resolve the underlying cause of the problem, whether that be a faulty water pump or something else entirely.

Identifying the Problem

Once you have safely pulled your vehicle over to the side of the road, you have two options: try to start your vehicle again or contact a tow truck for assistance. Before you attempt either of these solutions, it’s helpful to first identify the type of mechanical failure that caused your Subaru to stall. Not only will this help you determine whether or not it will be safe to restart your vehicle, but it can also give you a head start on fixing the problem.

Noises

Fortunately, faulty water pumps often present several clear symptoms long before they cause engine stalling. For example, one common sign of a malfunctioning water pump is unusual noises coming from your Subaru’s engine. More specifically, a squeaking, howling, or grinding noise may indicate that a water pump bearing has worn down, whereas a whining noise might signify a loose drive belt or broken water pump pulley.

Although these noises may also be caused by multiple other engine problems, they are a good initial sign that something might be wrong with your Subaru’s water pump.

Leaks

Another common symptom of water pump failure is coolant leaks. In order to cool your vehicle’s engine, the water pump circulates coolant past a series of seals and gaskets. If any of these seals or gaskets crack, coolant may leak out, thus lowering the water pump’s efficiency. This can lead to grinding noises and engine overheating.

Additionally, leaks in certain parts of the system may cause puddles of coolant to form in your garage, driveway, and other regular parking spots. If you notice any of these symptoms, there is a significant chance that your Subaru’s water pump is malfunctioning and may soon cause the engine to stall.

Identifying and responding to these signs in a timely fashion can help prevent your Subaru’s engine from stalling. Alternatively, if your vehicle’s engine has already stalled, awareness of the symptoms that preceded the event can make it much easier to diagnose any underlying problems. Regardless, it is vital that you keep an eye out for signs that your Subaru’s water pump is beginning to malfunction.

Fixing a Faulty Water Pump

If a faulty water pump is what caused your vehicle’s engine to stall, then it is imperative that you resolve the problem as soon as possible. As previously mentioned, driving with a faulty water pump may lead to engine overheating, which can be incredibly dangerous. Thus, depending on the distance between your vehicle and your preferred auto repair shop, it may be wise to call a tow truck to move your Subaru instead of trying to drive it.

Given the aforementioned dangers of driving a vehicle with a faulty water pump, you might be tempted to fix the problem yourself instead of finding transport to a repair shop. However, unless you are an experienced mechanic, this could be a serious mistake. The water pump is a very complicated component, and if you try to fix it on your own, you could cause considerable damage to your vehicle’s engine. Overall, trusting the task to a professional can save you a great deal of time, money, and hassle.

Franklin Automotive Will Help

Here at Franklin Automotive, we recognize that a stalled vehicle can be a huge source of frustration and stress. As such, we aim to make the automotive repair process as stress-free as possible, with shop amenities such as efficient, warranty-backed service, loaner cars, and contactless pickup.

For over 29 years, our ASE-certified technicians have provided exemplary repairs to customers in Hoover, Homewood, Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Inverness, Cahaba Heights, Greystone, and Birmingham, AL.

We are dedicated to helping you keep your import vehicle running smoothly and safely, so give us a call today or stop by the shop to schedule a convenient time for inspection and any needed repairs.

* Subaru Car image credit goes to: kurmyshov.