Water Pump...
 

Hi all,

Im having my timing belt replaced on 30th April (belt supplied by Alyn :thanx:) and some people have suggested having the water pump changed at the same time - what are your views?

The pump doesn't leak, the car has done 63,000 miles, but it is 12yrs old.

I asked the dealer who was doing the timing belt, and they said if its not leaking, don't replace it - but if I do want it done, it will cost £450 !!! which I thought was extortionate as they prob didn't want to do it.

Cheers

ryan

Use a different garage! ;)

A lot of people say its not needed on the Subarus but its a £30-40 part, plus less than an hours time to swap. Good to do the coolant change at the same time too imo. £450 to change it is a ripoff.

It was a main dealer price - hence the cost... ha ha

As the main dealer is doing my timing belt for £225, I thought id ask if they could do both at the same time.. They reckoned on their system the timing belt was a 3hr job, and the water pump was a 3.5hr job ! hence the cost. The water pump was only £98 inc VAT, but then there was coolant, gaskets, and VAT on the labour.

So needless to say main dealer won't be doing my water pump ! ha ha

I tried to take my front bumper off last night, just to have a look underneath - failed miserably! sigh ! mechanics aint my strong point obviously! Give me an orbital polisher anyday !

That will include the labour cost of removing and refitting the cam belt, it's that additional half hour labour plus the cost of the coolant and pump. Someone at the dealer isn't paying attention or is trying to rip you of, either that or they are going to fit the new cam belt, put the car back together and then take it all off again to do the water pump.

surely main dealer timing belt change for £225 is just the belt ? not all the idlers etc etc ? seems mad to not do all of it and the waterpump to for peace of mind ?

I did double check with him, and he reckons it is def for the complete kit - not just belt...
But I will check for a third time, as it sounded to cheap for me - especially as it is £655 for a major service and that much for water pump ! ha ha

ok ive rang and triple checked with main dealer - and spoke to another guy who read the notes on the job sheet which says "price of £225 to fit customer supplied timing belt, tensioner, idlers, and pulleys as part of timing belt kit". - so weird how that price can be so cheap, and everything else can be so expensive !

And I would do the waterpump at same time, but im not paying £500 for that - and they keep telling me they can't give me a better price even though half the work is done when changing the timing belt - I reckon its coz they don't really have a clue what they are doing !

Ah, so the £225 is labour only, you're supplying the parts.... Make sense as a dealer timing belt change is normally about £450 if they supply parts.

IMO its not required, unless you are having problems and you would already be aware of that

the issue is the VAG type plastic pumps which basically fall to bits every time you look at the belt - Subaru's have a metal impeller

Thanks Alyn - great advice :-)

Ryan