Hi, just wondering why its recommended to change the water pump with a cam belt renewal? What do you look for to make you decide to change it if its a 'take a look' scenario. Reason is, i have a belt but some people say change the water pump. WHY???

 

thanks

:bow:

Well I would say because of the waterpump location,If you have taken all the timing covers off it makes sense to change the pump,unless you know when it was last changed.

This is one car that you do not want water pump failure.

I second Mac's reply :)

 

The pump is meant to have a useful life of around 60K miles anyway, although it will probably be OK for a bit longer. But as a new one costs around £70 you are better off replacing it when the front of the engine is already off for the belt change.

 

If you don't and it goes later you will have to pay for all that labour again, plus new coolant etc. (I didn't know all this when I had my cambelt changed :o , but luckily my warranty paid for the parts and labour to replace the pump :cool: )

 

Whilst you are in there, replace the two small water hoses from the aluminium pipe (where the temp sensor sits) to the front of the engine (again, these are prone to leaks, but they only cost £10 for the pair), the thermostat and the other drive belts.

 

Prevention is the best cure and it will save you loads of labour costs later :shock:

 

HTH

 

Richard :smw:

This is one car that you do not want water pump failure.

 

Hi,

 

Listen to Mac on that one, you get no notice when your car is about to overheat. The stock gauge will go from normal working temp to max in less than 10 seconds :eek: :eek:

 

Vijay

Its mailnly down to sod's law aswell, if you dont replace it while youre in there, you'll put it al back together and next thing you know the pump will pack up!!!

 

Saves you double the time/labour if you do it while your in there.

I agree totaly on this one guys

While you can get at the water pump or anything that is going to cost a fortune in labour to replace in the future, and the fact that if the engine overheats you are looking at a massive bill (warped cylinder head etc). How many times have people said "if only I listened to the advice". ps Thermostat about 12 quid but 2/3 hours to fit from start to finish plus antifreeze just to do this job alone but while changeing the cam belt this would add another 1/2 hour absolute max (realisticly 10 mins).

I would also have all the anscillary belts changed at this point.

Cheers

Ady

defo, my cambelt was due and i didnt even consider the water pump, then it failed, so had it done at the same time with the thermostat and 2 inlet hoses, its worth it cos its a complete strip of the front parts to get to the water pump so have it done at the same time, u wont know your cars overheated till the gauge goes thru the ceiling, by this time you could have suffered major engine damage, these beasts run incredibly hot and need good cooling, i was lucky i wasnt stuck in traffic or flying down the motorway when it happened.

How long do you reckon it takes to change the water pump ?

Is it a radiator out job and a timing cover off job on a 1992 n/a autobox?

 

Thanks

John

John

...I did the belt on my NA and the water pump looked ok so I didn't change it. 3 months later it gave up on a French motorway.

 

I'm slow, so it took me 2 days to do the timing belt, and 3 months later, 1 day to do it (almost) all again to change the pump.

 

Mind you I've had the car for 4 years and the only time it's been off the road was while waiting for the water pump.

 

I'd replace it and keep the old one as a spare. It's unlikly that you'll ever re-use it, but you never know...

 

good luck

 

Jack