Hey guys. I am about to have my timing belt redone, and I've done the kits in the past. Is it a big deal to not replace the water pump now if it's working fine? I've always used the gates kits but money is tight and a friend is helping me do the timing belt install. The belt is cheap comkpared to the kit and I really need new tires too.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

If you don't mind doing the job again if the water pump takes a dump before the next timing belt change interval, then there's no problem leaving the old water pump in it. It's just labor.

 

its preventative maintenance, youre there so for a few extra bucks do the pump. if you dont have the money right now im sure your belt will last a few weeks until you do. will your old pump leak or fail if you dont replace it? probably not but remember Murphys Law.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the quick reply and on a Sunday morning no less! I found a rockauto kit from gates for about $80 that includes the water pump so I think I'll go that way. Even with shipping it's still $55 less then my local auto parts stores. If I can butter up my friend to help me do it for cheap (read free or take him out for a burger) then I'll go that route.

I don't know how hard it is to replace just the water pump, if it's as easy as turning a few bolts and slapping a new one on I don't mind waiting. If it is as invasive as the timing belt job then I'll just do it now.

 

To replace the waterpump separately as its own job later, you basically have to do the whole timing belt job again.

When the timing belt is already off its just a few bolts to replace the water pump.

If you have no idea when the last time the water pump was replaced I would definitely try to do it if it is within your budget.

 

If the water pump goes out later, the timing belt job would have to be done all over again to replace it. That's why it's usually done at the same time. The water pump probably would last till the belt job comes around again, but do you feel lucky?

 

Yeah, once you have the timing belts all removed (easy for me to say), THEN the water pump is a simple 5-minute job.