I just took it to the local mechanic for a coolant leak diagnoses. They said that It was my water pump, and it would cost 565 dollars to fix (this is along with the thermostat and coolant flush). I would just go take it to a few more shops but I don't want to risk my engine. Is this a reasonable price for the repair or should I go somewhere else?

 

Depends on your mechanic skills. If you have modest experience with hand tools you can replace the pump yourself. It is a fairly easy and cheap repair IIRC a pump is less than $50 and the last one I changed took me about 2.5 hrs. and that was lolli-gaging drinking beer hours.

 

This can be done for 45 bucks. It's not hard at all. 35 for a new pump and 10 for the coolant your going to lose. Remove the serpentine belt, remove the pulley, remove the attached hoses and bolts, remove pump, remove old sealant. Reverse order, simple job

 

Wow! I would never pay someone that much to do a water pump job on the 4.0. Do it yourself!

 

I agree with the others. I had never done one before and was able to do it with minimal frustration. With the internet and this site there are plenty of how to's.

 

This is an easy job. I'm pretty much a newb and was able to pull it off. Just be careful and don't break a water pump bolt like I did. That set me back a few hours as I struggled with getting it out, had to bring in reinforcements on that one.

 

Buy an OEM water pump if you decide to do yourself.
WeRMopar.com is a good source for reasonably priced OEM parts

 

Carry a jug or 2 of water with u and keep the rad full while u get estimates from other shops. Since the pump is below the t-stat, the job goes easier if u remove the stat 1st, change the pump, re-install the stat. $500+ for $50 in parts (pump and stat) does seem steep.