Please Help!
My ‘98 2wd 4cyl Ranger is down. I spent the day ATTEMPTING to replace the water pump. I have used a Haynes manual, Ford dealer info supplied by the Parts Dept, and Auto repair subscription info from a local repair shop. All say basically the same thing.
1. Drain coolant
2. Fan & shroud off.
3. Drive Belt off
4. Unbolt Water Pump
5. Unbolt & move AC compressor.
6. Unbolt large bracket holding Power Steering Pump. (What a pain this was!!!)
7. Remove outer plastic outer timing belt cover.
NOW is the problem…After the water pump is unbolted it needs to slide towards the drivers side to clear the pipe that is inserted into the water pump nozzle. The problem is that the inner timing belt case (the part the outer cover clips into) is fitted around the timing belt tensioner & will not permit the pump to slide right.

How do I remove the old water pump? The pipe that is inserted into the water pump nozzle is not flexible. None of the manuals discuss a way to loosen this pipe.
I know that there is a way to do this without breaking something. Please help!
Thank you.

Are you talking about this tube circled in black?

Yes, that is the tube. A pipe plugs into it. Everything is disconnected from the front of the engine, per the manuals. It should be ready to pull out, but is not coming. How do I get it out? Also, should I use anything on th “O” rings when I put the new pump in. (The Ford Manual says something about Teflon pipe dope.)
Thank you for all of your help!

If there is a piece connected to that it should just pull off. with some pliers. Take some large pliers and turn it bak and fourth to loosen it up.

I usually use vasoline to hold the o-rings in place.

Thank you for your help. I will use the Vaseline.
There is no way to get pliers on the pipe as it is behind the AC lines, tucked back in with the alternator. All of the manuals that I have used do not say anything about taking stuff apart on this side of the engine. I have tried some force to attempt to pull the pump out (with the 3 bolts out, it is loose. Either I am missing something in how to do this job or the manual is wrong (maybe incomplete).
Do you know anyone who has actually done this job & can pass the secret along?
Thank you.

u post up some pictures maybe I can see what u got going on

OK, I figured it out. In this case, I would have been MUCH better WITHOUT the manuals. (A lift would have been nice too.) There was absolutely no reason to pull the AC Compressor, PS Pump Bracket, or the Timing Belt Cover.

I can only guess that at one time during the engine production, one of the Water Pump bolts was located under the Timing Belt Cover. It sure would have been great if any of the 4 manuals I used had been updated.

The Lower Radiator Hose and a heater hose are attached to a plastic “Y” pipe that is lying sideways. The bottom of the Y fits into the Water Pump. The “Y” pipe is held into place by (2) 8 mm bolts that pull the pipe tightly into the Water Pump. These 8 mm bolts at only accessible from under the vehicle and are located immediately under the alternator. The job is very easy to do (now that the location of the bolts securing the “Y” pipe is known.)

My truck is chirping alot and i poured water into the radiator while the truck was running, and the cirping stopped. Is it possible it can be the water pump?

there is a weep hole on the top of the water pump if water is coming out then it is bad.