My 2000 V-40 will want a new belt. I have heard mixed opinions on whether I will need to replace the water pump as well. Any advice?

dtimms

 

The going rate is two timing belts to every water pump.
... unless there's something else going on.
Ed

 

if it is a 2000 car, i would always recommend to replace the timing belt, tensioner, idler, water pump, coolant. even on my own car.

 

As a master ASE tech I would highly recommend replacing the Timing belt ,water pump and the idlers and tensioner . I usually go the extra mile and replace the cam and crank seals.

 

if i remember, a 2000 v40 would have cvvt. when replaceing the cam seals, it will require special tools to lock the cams & remove of cvvt hub, that u need a specailist.

 

Lot of different opinions to answer your water pump question. I've a 98 xc awd with 200k and intended to replace it with the timing belt. The dealer had the time and stood to profit from it. I made it clear that if I had major failure $$$ I wasn't putting the bucks back into the car. The dealer/techs were adamant that they didn't see water pump failures. So it would seem to be a pretty objective opinion where dealer had nothing to gain with their answer, and something to gain if they replaced it. So I opted not to replace with timing belt this time. Next time I do plan on doing it, as 270k miles would seem a point where you could assume just about anything on the car has had a long life already. And if the car is still running well, I wouldn't want to kill it with failure to replace that. I do think the dealer was taking into consideration their experience with 98's as they work on a lot of them. Your year and model is different and maybe I would have got a different answer. Good luck!

 

If you are having the work done, I say yes. If doing the work yourself, I would not, unless it's leaking. Don't hear of to many water pump failures that destroyed the motor. A water pump usually leaks before it fails. If you are doing it yourself, it's no big deal to replace the pump if it starts leaking in 2 years or 20,000 miles. However, if you are paying someone to do the belt, you save a lot of $$$ IF you have a pump leak or fail.

 

question: u r going risk a few hundred bugs water pump then a $6000 or more engine??