I was told the other day that I should change my water pump at the same time as the timing belt, (230 000 Kms) is this true or can that wait?

Thanks,
Edward

 

It can wait, but might as well since you'll have it all apart anyways.

 

I mean, you should do it at the same time, a failing water pump can be bad news.

 

If it's the original water pump...yes, it's due for a change. I've heard they usually crap out at around 150k miles (240k km).

Like gilber33 said, it can wait...but it's better to do it now. Are you doing it yourself, or are you paying a mechanic to do it?
The pump should be about $100...but if you don't change it now and decide to do it later, the labor charge for the water pump is the same as the timing belt. If you change them both, you don't have to pay twice the labor

 

+1, According to Volvo, you should change it on the 3rd timing belt change. So that should be around 180K.

 

Thank you all very much. As always, the wisdom of the group is invaluable.

Ed

 

I have been driving Volvos since 1985 and have never changed a water pump. Just luck I guess. When I do my TB on my 97 R with 200K on it, that might be the 1st time I change one. Don't know if I want to break a perfect record though.

 

I would break the record. You don't want the water pump to break you.

 

I had one start to leak right at the 210k (miles) timing belt change on the '94 N/A - it turns out that my tensioner was also in the process of failing since it was original.

I had another one, the '96 N/A, that was destroying itself internally at the 140k interval. No leaks, no warning, but I fear the worst had I not changed it. The impeller was carving itself into the housing. The pump was just fine when I did the '96 Platinum at the 140k interval.

My rule is to change it every other timing belt change along with all of the rollers and the tensioner.

I guess it is just me but it really screws up my day when something breaks in the timing system.

...Lee

 

Yes it does. Just ask the guy on VS that had his water pump seize up on him at 140K and it destroyed the timing belt. We can all imagine how this one played out.