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Okay so bought my NA8 about a month ago. 93,000km on clock. Previous owner had a mechanic change the water pump and all the hoses in the engine bay but not timing belt, I've mentioned that previously in my "garage" thread. Dunno why, there's not even a mechanic's name on the receipt so I don't know which mechanic it was.

My Options:
1. Get timing belt changed by mechanic and tell them to keep existing water pump. The mechanic said they won't warrant the water pump (obviously), and if coolant leaks onto timing belt then they wont warrant that either.
2. Get timing belt changed plus new water pump.

My question: Is it a common occurrence for water pumps to leak onto the timing belt? Should I just take the risk and get the timing belt done and keep the "new" water pump (assuming the mechanic doesn't pull it apart and find that the previous owner's mechanic did not actually change the water pump as claimed).

This is rushed post so hope it makes sense.

Water pump is relatively cheap, just get it done for peace of mind.

You don't have to touch the water pump when changing the timing belt but you do have to remove the timing belt to change the water pump. I can't understand why they wouldn't have changed the timing belt at the same time either.

In any case, you've got a new water pump in there and nothing is going to happen to it while you get the timing belt changed. Unless the new pump is leaking just leave it alone.

edit: No, it's not common for water pumps to leak onto timing belts unless they're really old. Water doesn't do much harm to timing belts anyway. They get splashed all the time.

I'd just bite the bullet and replace both timing belt and water pump. Then you know for sure that they have both been done


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Do you have a receipt for the water pump? Do you know it's new. Manga blue is right.. If the pump is new.


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Maybe get a timing belt kit with all the items (tensioners, waterpump, camshaft seals, crankshaft seal, timing belt etc) & have just what is old replaced. If the mechanic's opinion is that the waterpump (& the other stuff) looks like it was replaced then you could sell off the unused spares.

Thanks for the tips. Very helpful. Here's the receipt (attached) - it just says Water Pump $79 so yeah maybe it's new, but maybe it's not also.

Can anybody tell what the last line of the receipt says?

Which last line?

In the first image I think it says 'Inhibitor' which I suspect means coolant or anti-freeze.
In the second image it say 4 hours labour.

Ahhhh yeah inhibitor, thanks man!

"Looks" like he spelt it inhibada.


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Haha yeah.

If my mechanic was going to charge me $80-90 for a new water pump it would be a no brainer, but they quoted $140 or so for a new one. Perhaps that's for a genuine one? Maybe I'll buy an aftermarket one from Mania for $90 and give it to him to put in.

Water pumps are often changed only because of convenience ie when belt is changed and no one really knows how long they last. Same for timing belts these don't break at 100k intervals it's just a recommendation . I agree with manga- the pump has been changed and quite possibly because it was leaking and a seller may have chosen not to spend more. Just do the belt but at 93k there is no big hurry. If you do 10k a year then it's a job that can wait.

Incidentally most businesses now charge around $100 per hour labour and this mechanic charged only $60. If you ask for a quote you might get a surprise. It suggests to me that it's no mainstream business that did the work otherwise you get a proper invoice with business name. A business buys a pump say from Bursons at trade price and you pay retail so it does not always mean you save anything. A mechanic will also buy items they need to finish a job.

Ive had one waterpump last 150k km. another 50k. current one is about 70 old.

I believe ManiacLachy just had the 100K service done on his NB SE and they said the waterpump was on it's last legs, I had my 100K service done about 6 months ago and the water pump was fine but replaced it anyway as everything was out of the way for the timing belt replacement.....

Actually I thought the quote I got was pretty good, it was approx. $210 for timing belt kit, $340 for labour (3.5hrs)... less than I expected tbh.. it was just the water pump for $140 that surprised me. I might call and ask what brand it is. It seems a bit steep.