How to Replace Water Pump Bypass Tube 2003-08 Dodge Ram
Created on: 2016-05-13
New Water Pump Bypass Tube from 1AAuto.com
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step 1 :Draining the Radiator Coolant
- Have a drain pan ready
- Open the drain valve and let the coolant run out
- Press down on the radiator cap and turn counterclockwise
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step 2 :Removing the Serpentine Belt
- Familiarize yourself with the route of the serpentine belt under the hood or on the radiator support
- Insert the 3/8 inch drive ratchet into the tensioner
- Turn the tensioner clockwise to loosen the belt
- Pull the belt off the alternator
- Release the tensioner
- Pull the belt off by hand
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step 3 :Removing the Water Pump Bypass Tube
- Spray rust penetrant at the top of the pipe
- Loosen the hose clamp at the bottom of the heater pipe with pliers
- Twist the end of the hose free
- Remove the lower hose
- Remove the lower idler pulley with a 13mm socket
- Remove the heater pipe's lower retainer bolt with a 13mm socket
- Remove the heater pipe's upper retainer bolt with a 10mm socket
- Release the top of the heater pipe with a pry bar
- Twist and pry multiple time to release the pipe from the O-ring
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step 4 :Installing the Water Pump Bypass Tube
- Move the upper retainer to the top of the pipe to assist in placing the pipe
- Tighten the upper 10mm retainer bolt
- Tighten the lower 13mm retainer bolt
- Reinstall the hose at the bottom of the retainer pipe
- Insert the coolant hose to the bottom of the heater pipe
- Tighten the hose clamp
- Insert and tighten the 13mm bolt to the lower idler pulley
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step 5 :Installing the Serpentine Belt
- Loop the belt around the crank shaft pulley
- Bring it around the water pump
- Bring it under the power steering pulley
- Bring it over the A/C Pulley
- Bring it under the upper idler pulley
- Bring it over the lower idler pulley
- Bring it around the belt tensioner
- Pull the tensioner clockwise with the 3/8 inch ratchet
- Pull the belt over the alternator
- Release the tensioner
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step 6 :Refilling the Radiator Coolant
- Tighten the drain valve to the bottom of the radiator
- Place a funnel into the radiator top
- Refill the radiator with Mopar 50/50 coolant
- Turn the heat on in your vehicle and let it run with the cap off
- Wait for the air bubbles to dissipate
- Shut the heat off after the fluid level settles are the bubbles have dissipated
- Tighten the radiator cap
Tools needed
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13mm Socket
Socket Extensions
Rust Penetrant
Channel-Lock Pliers
Pry Bar
Drain Pan
10mm Socket
3/8 Inch Drive Ratchet
Anti-Freeze
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Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.
In this video, we're going to show you how to replace the water pump bypass tube, also sometimes called the heater pipe or coolant tube. This is a 2008 Dodge Ram. It's pretty much the same for any 2003 to 2008 Ram. You'll need a new tube from 1AAuto.com, drain bucket, 3/8 ratchet, penetrating oil, pliers, 10mm to 13mm sockets with extensions, small pry bar, and extra engine coolant.
This can easily be done from the ground, but we raised and supported our vehicle and put a drain bucket underneath our radiator. Open the drain on the bottom of the radiator. Wait for your coolant to run out. Open the hood and locate your radiator cap. Remove the radiator cap by pressing down, turning counterclockwise two clicks.
Here's your serpentine belt. Before removing, you'll want to make sure you have the diagram for it, usually located under the hood or on the radiator support of your vehicle. We weren't able to find one on our truck, so for our information and to help you out, you can see here's a still photo of our belt properly routed. This is obviously just on this 5.7-liter Hemi V8. We do reference back to this every once in a while in the video to show you better how it routes.
Using the drive from the 3/8 ratchet, you will insert it into the slot on the tensioner. Remove the tension from the belt, take it off the pulley. Remove your serpentine belt from your accessories pulleys.
Your water pump bypass hose is located on the front of the motor just below the alternator. Runs behind the water pump, the lower idler pulley, and out of the passenger side. You can access this part without removing your fan and fan shroud. We've done so to make it easier to film and show you what's going on. Spray some penetrating oil at the top of the pipe to help free up any dried or baked-in O-rings. Remove the hose clamp at the bottom of the heater pipe.
Using your pliers, twist the end of the hose to free it up. Make sure you have a drain bucket below the area you're working in. Remove the lower hose. Remove your lower idler pulley with a 13mm socket. Using a 13mm socket and an extension, remove the lower retaining bolt on the heater pipe. Remove the 10mm upper retainer bolt on the heater pipe. Using a small pry bar, release the top of the heater pump from the water pump. You may have to twist and pry multiple times in order to get the O-ring to release.
Original part from our vehicle. You can see it's pretty rusty and crusty. The coolant will actually start seeping through the metal. New part from 1A Auto. Excellent replacement. This adjustable mounting point actually makes it easier to get by the water pump pulley.
Move the upper pipe retainer to the top of the pipe to give you a little more clearance getting it behind the water pump pulley. Push the heater pipe into the housing. Reinstall the 10mm bolt on the upper pipe retainer and a 13mm bolt in the lower retainer. Reinstall the hose at the bottom of the heater pipe and the clamp. Reinstall your lower idler pulley. Tighten it down with a 13mm wrench.
To reinstall your serpentine belt, loop around your crank shaft pulley, bring the top side over the water pump pulley, under the power steering pump pulley, over the A/C compressor, under your upper idler pulley, to the other side, go over your lower idler pulley and around your tensioner.
Using your 3/8"? drive ratchet, remove the tension from the tensioner pulley and install the remainder of your belt over your alternator pulley.
Ensure that your belt is properly seated around the pulleys and installed in the correct path before starting your vehicle.
Fill your radiator with MoPar-approved 50/50 coolant. Be sure to close the drain on the bottom of your radiator before filling. Any time you drain the coolant from your vehicle, you're going to want to properly bleed the system.
To do this, fill your radiator and your expansion tank. Turn the heat on in your vehicle and let it run. With the cap off, wait until you see all the air bubbles come out, constantly checking the fluid level until the fluid level remains stable without any bubbling or draining. Then you're safe to reinstall the cap. Ensure that your heat's blowing hot air, and you're ready to go.
Thanks for tuning in. We hope this video helped you out. Next time you need parts for your car, please visit 1AAuto.com. Also check out our other helpful how-to and diagnosis videos.
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