Early warning indicators:
- Coolent weeping from water pump (may or may not drip)
- Small drops of coolent under engine
- Smell of coolant from outside car or from passenger side engine compartment vent
- Coolent repeatedly slightly low and needing "topping up"
- Water pump bearing noise
- Engine temp running slightly hotter than typical
When the water pump actually fails, you can expect one or more of the following;
- Lots of coolent on ground
- Clouds of smoke/steam from coolent burning off on engine
- Heavy smell of coolent from outside car or from passenger side engine compartment vent
- Engine temp going to max
- Engine temp warning light turning on indicating max temp reached
- Engine temp warning light flashing indicating need to shut down engine immediately