Steve in MD

Can anyone tell me if it is customary to change the water pump on the 2.8L when you do the timing belt and serpentine belt or do they last a lot longer?

Thanks

Kris Hansen

waterpump is the #1 cause of premature timing belt failure on the 2.8.

Jim TT

One was done with a timing belt (the second timing belt)even though it was woking fine, the other was done because it was leaking coolant. I would say that you will start to loose coolant before the pump comes apart so you should have some warning. If they were my cars I would have changed the water pumps sooner, but IMO the timing belt is as important. When you get near 100,000 the pump should be changed if not sooner as far as I am concerened.

Ray Calvo

In retrospect, Jim TT is right - generally the pump will start leaking before it blows. Pump blew after a drive to work. When I got home that day I saw a puddle of coolant on the garage floor which I hadn't noticed before.

Check under your car frequently.

I would say if either (pump or timing belt) has over 50K miles, change them.

siberian@siberian.org

Timing belt, water pump and thermostat. Its just easier to do it while your in there.

ECS Tuning sells a great timing belt kit with all the fixings.

Steve K - AVDG

It's not "necessary", but my mechanic [not a dealer, but a very well respected local import mechanic] says that you're gonna have to replace the water pump sooner or later, and while you're doing the belt it's really easy to do the pump at the same time. If you've got enough miles on the car to need a belt...the pump is getting a bit old too.

Basically, you'll be able to replace the pump for essentially the cost of the pump itself [little labor] if you do it with the belt.

He highly recommended doing the belt and pump togther. I think the majority of the folks around here will agree.

s4master1

is safer than the other way around

always replace both ... no questions