Hi,

I have a question re: a coolant leak as I want to ensure I'm not being taken advantage of.

I've brought my car in for repair and I'm being told that my coolant is leaking from the water pump (so I should also change the timing belt) and that the coolant is leaking into the upper rad holes along with the thermostat housing requiring replacement.

Is it possible for the coolant leak to affect all of these things at once?

Thanks.

 

First and foremost, if a shop tells you something like this, and it beyond your knowledge base, it is perfectly ok to get a second opinion from another shop...presuming the car is drivable.
Now, as to the timing belt. Generally, it has to be removed to replace the water pump. Since you're paying the labor to have the water pump removed and the belt has to be removed to replace the pump...it just makes sense to renew the belt at that time as it should only cost you the price of the belt w/ no extra labor. Likewise, when a timing belt needs to be replaced, shops often suggest changing the water pump as to remove the timing belt, they end up staring at the water pump that can, at that point, be removed for just a bit more labor. Typically, in this latter example, the shop would bill the labor at the water pump charge and there would be no labor shown for the belt swap, even though that was the service requested. Believe it or not, it saves the owner money in the long run. Yes, it also helps the cash flow for the shop too but on today's transverse engines, it is much more difficult to access these parts and doing the labor only once instead of twice saves money in the long run. I have no idea about upper rad holes, the thermostat housing? If you're servicing the cooling system, a new thermostat isn't necessarily a bad thing but if it's easily accessible and the housing is not leaking and the car doesn't overheat, I'd give it some thought. I'm a big believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, in your case, there may be a legitimate school of thought of which I'm unaware or Volvo may have issued some TSB concerning the housing. I'd ask for clarification. If the water pump is leaking, it needs to be fixed. If nothing else is leaking...I just don't know...I'd have to ask 'em. Changing the T belt is a good thing though...

 

Thanks, this is helpful. I'm being told the coolant has leaked out of the water pump, timing belt, and thermostat housing so I guess if there's a leak its good that they're replacing all of it

Thanks again.