Interval for water pump change?

[Matt_S]

^^^ What he said.

I'll add that if a timing belt replacement is necessary, it's crazy not to relace the water pump while you're in there. If the water pump leaks, it will destroy the timing belt. That can cause engine damage in a lot of cars.

 

[Mud]

Water pumps only need to be replaced when they leak or the bearing starts to go UNLESS they are behind the timing belt as noted above. Then replace the pump when the belt is changed to avoid POSSIBLY having to go back later.

The pump on your car does not "need" to be changed unless it is going out. If a good pump is replaced as part of a timing belt replacement procedure, that's just for preventive maintenance.

We have cars with and without timing belts and I'm dang sure not going to run out there and change a properly functioning pump every 60K miles on the ones without a timing belt, like my Crown Vic. But I will change the pump on my daughters Audi when I do the timing belt, not just because a shop says I should do it at some magic mile mark. Too many times they act like the part's gonna just fall right off the car.

 

[Audity]

With some cars, the water pump is actually driven by the timing belt. If the water pump seizes it is likely to destroy the belt, and if it is an interference engine some of the valves will be trashed. Costly problem.

I don't know if your Renault is set up that way, but the Porsche 944-series engines are. With those engines, it's common practice to change the water pump at the time of belt replacement (and the interval is only 30k miles!).

 

[labman]

I think I have eventually replaced the water pump on every thing I ever owned except my 02 Cavalier. No good cause to expect it to last another 100 K. What I don't understand is why they moved such a failure prone part to the top of the engine and changed the drive to maximize the damage if it ever seized. It can't be pretty if one driven by a timing chain seizes. I think Mercedes Benz started the insanity of putting the pump at the top of the engine where it can't pump at all if the coolant is down. Of course, everybody had to copy that great German engineering feat.

So it does make sense to replace the pump if you have that part of the engine apart for some other reason.

 

[moribundman]

Who else is putting the wp on top of the engine?

Well, at least you'll find out right away that the coolant is low. If you've missed the coolant idiot light, the blown headgasket will be a neat reminder to be more careful in the future.

 

[labman]

Well I heard of one MB owner that wouldn't start the engine without opening the hood and checking the coolant after 2 blown head gaskets.

The 92 Grand Am HO Quad 4 had the water pump just under the exhaust manifold.

 

[twvenezuela]

At my local Renault garage, not official one, but specialist on renaults, they tell me that a w.pump is needed to be replaced at 100.000km (60.000Mi), is this true on my D7f Twingo (2000)?

If not, at how many kms. is necesary?

Thanks in advance

Alvaro

 

[Kestas]

Nowadays it is usually done when the timing belt is changed. This is because of the labor overlap to do each job separately. Timing belts are usualy chenged every 60,000 mi. Water pumps are not that expensive and they are a wear item that eventually needs replacing. It is something that is done "while you're there" replacing the timing belt.

100,000 km (60,000 mi) sounds about right. I'm not sure about your specific model, but Renault requires 60,000 mi timing belt replacement on all its other vehicles.

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=2256&location_id=3487&go=SearchGatesPopular

 

[moribundman]

Engineers tend to be sadists.

 

[kenw]

instead of EVERY timing belt change (which would be gross overkill), I just do it every-other timing belt change. That works to 120-150k.

 

[Cutehumor]

my 96 sunfire 2.2 is on original waterpump at 125k miles. timing chain driven

 

[twvenezuela]

ok folks, here is mty plan, change pump on this T.B. change (120.000 km) and change at another 120.000 km, this is every other change.

thanks for your inputs

Alvaro