A failing water will either 1) be noisey or 2) leak around the shaft or 3) Have some play present when the pully is pulled up and down by hand.( engine off)
water pumps don't normally give signs of failing. what happens is the bearings give out. you can take the belt off and spin the pulley, if you hear a grinding noise or it won't turn, you might have a...
There is a weep hole on the underside of the water pump. If it is leaking out of that weep hole, it is defective and needs replacing. If the gasket is leaking which is unlikely if the pump is an OEM...
Best sign of a water pump leaking is water on the ground where the car was sitting. lol
The Signs of my water pump failing are;
Squealing belt,
Iratic indications of temperature on guage when...