How would you know if your water pump has gone bad? no leaks, engine temperature is normal...

Here are some common symptoms that hint towards having a bad water pump:

1. Coolant leak at the front-center of your car

2. Water pump pulley is loose and making whining sounds

3. Engine is overheating

4. Steam coming from your radiator

Maybe the water pump on the front of the engine has gone bad. When the seal in the water pump goes out, water can leak out.

SOUND LIKE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR OPEN OR BAD.HAVE THE ECT SENSOR CHECK WITH CODE SCANNER SEE IF ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR READING TEMPERATURE RIGHT.IF ENGINE COOLANT 200 DEGREES AND SCANNER SHOWS 80 TO 100 DEGREES YOUR ECT SENSOR BAD.

This most certainly sounds like a water pump issue. The thermostate is located inside the water pump housing and if the pump is bad you'l lose fluids and need to add every day or so. The temp guage will run hot and often the heater won't warm up. You have even notice fluids on the ground below the front passenger side of the car. Try getting a pressure test first before replacing anything. That's a good place to start the diagnosis.

Are you sure this isn't a "weep hole"? Many water pumps have them, and they leak when the pump has gone bad. Plugging them won't help, and could cause engine failure.

your gonna have to determine where the fluid is coming from look around the engine if its leaking there its the water pump if not you may have a hose gone bad or a bad heater core.

5.3L Grand Prix Engine

1. Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan.
2. Remove the battery from the engine along with its tray.
3. Take the drive belt out of the engine.
4. Loosen and remove the three bolts to the water pump and remove the pump, throwing away the gasket.
5. Clean the gasket mating surfaces and install the new water pump with a new gasket, tightening the bolts to 89 inch pounds (10 Nm).
6. Reinstall the drive belt and the battery with the battery tray.
7. Refill the engine's cooling system with coolant. Start the car and check for leaks when the engine reaches normal operating temperature.

3.5L Grand Prix Engine

1. Partially drain the coolant from the cooling system.
   
2. Disconnect the surge tank outlet hose and remove the drive belt.
   
3. Remove the idler pulley and the water pump pulley, making sure to note the locations of the bolts as you remove them as they are various lengths.
   
4. Loosen and remove the bolts to the water pump, also taking note at their locations, and remove the pump.
   
5. Install the new water pump with a new gasket, tightening the bolts to 124 inch pounds (14 Nm).
   
6. Reattach the water pump pulley, tightening the bolts to 106 inch pounds (12 Nm).
   
7. Reinstall the idler pulley, tightening the bolts to 37 foot pounds (50 Nm) and install the surge tank hose and drive belt.
   
8. Refill the engine's cooling system with coolant.
   
9. Start the car and check for leaks when the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
   

3.4L and 3.1L Grand Prix Engines

1. Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan.
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
3. Remove the accessory drive belt guard and the accessory drive belt.
4. Loosen and remove the water pump pulley bolts and remove the water pump pulley.
5. Remove the water pump bolts and remove the water pump.
6. Install the new water pump along with a new gasket, tightening the bolts to 89 inch pounds (10 Nm).
7. Reinstall the water pump pulley and tighten the bolts to 18 foot pounds (25 Nm).
8. Reattach the accessory drive belt with the drive belt guard.
9. Refill the engine's cooling system with coolant.
10. Start the car and check for leaks when the engine reaches normal operating temperature.

it the water pump is bad there is a n easy way to check, normally the temperature rises gradually and if you pull the belt off and wiggle fan if there is any movement it's a sure sign the pump is worn out. also leaking out the lower weep hole is a sure indication the pump seal is gone.

sounds like the thermostat stuck closed, a water pump would not cause this problem, replace the T-stat.

There are only a couple things you can check. First, I would make sure the gauge is reading properly by checking the fluid temperature manually. Newer model cars have temperature sensors that can malfunction but they will usually set your check engine light off it that is the case. Check your radiator fluid. While the engine is cold!! See if it looks dirty. Rub it between your fingers and see how viscous it feels. Make sure the radiator is full. You may just need to get your radiator flushed. A lack of flow will cause an overheating condition. When your back in motion the engine has more pressure to circulate the fluid. When the car is moving there is airflow that also aids in the cooling process as well. Other than that you have a thermostat which could be sticking and causing it to overheat. Or the water pump is bad. A flush and fill and replacing the thermostat are fairly cheap and usually a lot easier to do than replacing the water pump. Especially on a Honda. Usually you will hear a squealing noise if your water pump is going out and there is, I think it is called a weep hole on the pump itself that will start to leak when the pump is going bad.