🔧 Kicks - Water Pump Replacement

This repair replaces the engine water pump, which circulates coolant through your Kicks to keep the 1.6L engine from overheating. The pump is belt-driven and mounted on the passenger side of the engine, so you’ll remove the accessory drive belt, drain coolant, replace the pump and gasket, then refill and bleed the cooling system.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2.5-4 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Never open the radiator cap or coolant reservoir cap when the engine is hot; hot coolant can spray out and cause burns.
• ⚠️ Let the engine cool completely before starting, ideally several hours after driving.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable before working near the drive belt area.
• ⚠️ Support your Kicks only with jack stands if raising it; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• ⚠️ Keep coolant away from pets and children; it is toxic and has a sweet smell.
• ⚠️ Do not run the engine with hands, tools, or clothing near the belt or pulleys.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 10mm socket
• 12mm socket
• 14mm socket
• Ratchet wrench 3/8-inch drive
• 3/8-inch drive extension 6-inch
• Combination wrench 12mm
• Combination wrench 14mm
• Torque wrench 3/8-inch drive
• Flat-blade screwdriver medium
• Trim clip removal tool
• Drain pan 2-gallon minimum
• Coolant funnel kit spill-free (specialty)
• Plastic gasket scraper
• Shop towels
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine water pump - Qty: 1
• Water pump gasket or O-ring - Qty: 1
• Nissan-compatible blue long-life coolant premix 50/50 - Qty: 1-2 gallons
• Accessory drive belt - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Kicks on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• 🧊 Let the engine cool completely before opening the cooling system.
• 🔋 Use a 10mm socket to disconnect the negative battery cable, then move it aside so it cannot touch the battery post.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels before lifting the front.
• 💧 Place a drain pan under the radiator drain area before loosening any coolant drain point.
• 🧰 A spill-free funnel is a funnel that locks onto the radiator or reservoir opening and helps remove air bubbles while filling coolant.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and Secure the Front

• Use wheel chocks behind the rear wheels to keep your Kicks from rolling.
• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front of the vehicle at the proper front jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the front support points, then lower the vehicle gently onto them.
• Use safety glasses and nitrile gloves before going underneath.

Step 2: Remove the Lower Splash Shield

• Use a trim clip removal tool to remove the plastic push clips from the lower engine splash shield.
• Use a 10mm socket to remove any splash shield bolts.
• Set the shield and fasteners aside in order.
• Take a photo before removal.

Step 3: Drain the Coolant

• Make sure the engine is cold.
• Place a drain pan 2-gallon minimum under the radiator drain area.
• Use a flat-blade screwdriver medium to carefully open the radiator drain cock if equipped.
• If access is tight, use pliers only if necessary and turn gently to avoid damaging the plastic drain.
• Remove the coolant reservoir cap slowly to help coolant drain.
• Close the drain cock after coolant flow slows to a drip.

Step 4: Remove the Passenger-Side Access Cover Area

• Use a trim clip removal tool to remove plastic clips from the passenger-side lower fender liner area as needed for belt and pump access.
• Use a 10mm socket to remove any small bolts holding the access panel or liner edge.
• Move the liner aside without tearing it.

Step 5: Release the Accessory Drive Belt

• The accessory drive belt is the rubber belt that turns the alternator, A/C compressor, and water pump pulleys.
• Use a 14mm wrench or 14mm socket on the belt tensioner to rotate the tensioner and remove belt tension.
• Slide the belt off the water pump pulley first, then slowly release the tensioner.
• Remove the belt from the other pulleys and note the routing.
• Draw the belt path first.

Step 6: Remove the Water Pump Pulley

• Use a 10mm socket to loosen the water pump pulley bolts.
• If the pulley spins, hold it carefully by hand with gloves while loosening the bolts, or lightly snug the old belt around it for grip.
• Remove the pulley bolts with the 10mm socket.
• Remove the pulley and set it aside.

Step 7: Remove the Old Water Pump

• Place the drain pan under the water pump area because more coolant will spill.
• Use a 10mm socket and 12mm socket as needed to remove the water pump mounting bolts.
• Gently pull the water pump away from the engine.
• If it sticks, tap lightly by hand; do not pry hard against the aluminum engine surface.
• Remove the old gasket or O-ring.

Step 8: Clean the Mounting Surface

• Use a plastic gasket scraper to clean the engine-side sealing surface.
• Use shop towels to wipe away old coolant and gasket residue.
• Do not use a metal scraper, because it can gouge the aluminum sealing surface and cause leaks.
• Make sure no debris falls into the coolant passage.

Step 9: Install the New Water Pump

• Install the new water pump gasket or O-ring onto the new water pump.
• Position the water pump squarely against the engine by hand.
• Start all mounting bolts by hand first to prevent cross-threading.
• Use a 10mm socket and 12mm socket to snug the bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern.
• Use a torque wrench 3/8-inch drive to tighten the water pump bolts to Torque to 10 Nm (89 in-lbs) unless the replacement pump instructions specify otherwise.

Step 10: Reinstall the Water Pump Pulley

• Place the pulley onto the new water pump.
• Start the pulley bolts by hand.
• Use a 10mm socket to snug the pulley bolts evenly.
• Use a torque wrench 3/8-inch drive to tighten the pulley bolts to Torque to 24 Nm (18 ft-lbs).

Step 11: Install the Accessory Drive Belt

• Route the new accessory drive belt around the pulleys following the original belt path.
• Use a 14mm wrench or 14mm socket to rotate the belt tensioner.
• Slide the belt onto the final pulley, then slowly release the tensioner.
• Check that the belt ribs sit fully inside every pulley groove.
• Misrouted belts squeal or shred.

Step 12: Reinstall the Fender Liner and Splash Shield

• Use a 10mm socket to reinstall any fender liner or access cover bolts.
• Use a trim clip removal tool or your fingers to reinstall the plastic clips.
• Use a 10mm socket to reinstall the lower splash shield bolts.
• Do not overtighten plastic shield fasteners; snug is enough.

Step 13: Refill the Cooling System

• Lower your Kicks using the floor jack after removing the jack stands.
• Install the coolant funnel kit spill-free at the coolant fill point.
• Add Nissan-compatible blue long-life coolant premix 50/50 slowly.
• Squeeze the upper radiator hose gently by hand several times to help move trapped air.
• Fill the coolant reservoir to the MAX line.

Step 14: Bleed Air from the Cooling System

• Reconnect the negative battery cable using a 10mm socket.
• Start the engine and set the heater to full hot with the blower on low.
• Let the engine idle while watching the coolant level in the spill-free funnel.
• Add coolant as the level drops.
• When the radiator fan cycles on and warm air comes from the vents, most air is out.
• Turn the engine off and let it cool completely.
• Remove the spill-free funnel and install the cap securely.

Step 15: Final Leak Check

• Use a flashlight to inspect around the water pump, hose connections, and radiator drain area.
• Use shop towels to wipe any spilled coolant so new leaks are easy to spot.
• Top off the coolant reservoir to the MAX line after the engine cools.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Start your Kicks and watch the temperature gauge; it should stay in the normal range.
• ✅ Confirm the heater blows warm air at idle.
• ✅ Road test for 10-15 minutes, then recheck for leaks after the engine cools.
• ✅ Recheck coolant level the next morning and top off to the MAX line if needed.
• ✅ If the engine overheats, the heater blows cold, or coolant level keeps dropping, shut the engine off and recheck for trapped air or leaks.
• ✅ Dispose of old coolant at a recycling center or auto parts store; do not pour it on the ground or into drains.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $450-$750 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $120-$260 (parts only)

You Save: $330-$490 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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