[jeff968]

I saw a comment on another thread and wanted to get the opinions of others. My thought has always been that the water pump issues that plagued the 944 were rectified with the 968. So, when doing a timing belt replacement I don't replace my water pump. In 14 years of 968 ownership I've never had a water pump issue. What do you think? Are water pump replacements just as necessary with the 968 as the 944s? Do you replace your water pump with every belt replacement?

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[banditsc]

I was going to do every other belt change, but didn't feel like changing it this last time. So I will do it on the next belt change.

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[Tom030]

Hi Jeff,
I just replaced the water pump on my 115,000 mile 93 for the first time. The pump was in excellent shape according to the mechanic who has been servicing it for the last ten years. I went ahead and replaced it because he was doing belts and rollers anyway and I didn't feel like pushing my luck. I will say I have been religious about flushing the system every two years and using European no-phosphate anti-freeze.
~tom

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[94SilverCab]

I drove mine until it failed 11 years, 66k miles...the plastic impeller let go internally, no leaking..just overheating like crazy. I would probably wait until it fails and when it does it'll do new belts at the same time (meaning I will move belts forward, never defer them).

Regards,

Jay

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[banditsc]

The only concern is the other failure mode, the waterpump itself seizing up and taking out your timing belt. That's the one that worries me.

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[Lear35A]

For those who have yet not had the "privilege" of replacing this pump, I'm posting a couple of pictures showing what we're talking about.

The first picture is the backside of the pump that literally sits in a recess in the front of the engine block. The black part is the plastic impeller.

The second picture is the front of the pump. The outside of the timing belt rides against the surface, which rotates the impeller, that is just behind the brass colored bell shape thingy. If the impeller freezes, this surface stops rotating; heat builds up; and the belt fails.

If the seal on the shaft that connect the impeller with the rotating surface fails, you get a leak out the front of the pump.

Alles klar?

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[RS Barn]

Every picture tells a story

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[Lear35A]

What kind of fertilizer do you use? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

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[DaveN]

I just did my first one at 127,000 Km, plastic impeller spun. I now have a new one with a metal impeller and don't forsee changing it at any set interval.

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[Jamie '92 968]

Hey Pete,

Is one of those my water pump that seized a couple months ago?

Bad failure mode.

I was lucky it didn't take out my engine.


My experience says change it before 18 years and 148K miles...

Jamie

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[ds968]

Definitely not replacing the pump at EVERY belt change, though I think the first belt change which is close to 100k miles, it might be a prudent thing to do..

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[craigawoodman]

Since I have had my car for now 4 years, I had the pump and timing belt changed when I first bought the car. I then had two water pumps fail prior to the current one fitted (bad overhaul - ultimately fixed by installing a new pump). The belts are now due for changing again and I will most likely get the pump done at the same time as the incremental cost is minimal when doing it all at the same time.

I track my car almost all of the time and t ohave a pump fail and leak coolant all over the alternator is not a good thing at a track day.

For the incremental cost - why not do it every 4 years.

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[AJG]

It's possible that the occasional horror story like "my Variocam went and took the top of the engine with it," etc etc. creates these feelings of impending doom when really they are relatively rare. There's actually hardly any problems with various engine parts and that could well be true re. water pumps. But being susceptible to folklore I have just done mine as a belt and braces exercise! Guess what, the shop noticed a leaky belt tensioner and I had that done as well. Phew! If you can afford to do it then go ahead, there's nothing like driving away in your 968 knowing all the essential boxes are ticked and should remain so with routine care and maintenance for lots of miles.Regular changing and flushing of the coolant system may also help the pump as well as keeping the engine block sound.

Andy

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[jeff968]

"It's possible that the occasional horror story like "my Variocam went and took the top of the engine with it," etc etc. creates these feelings of impending doom when really they are relatively rare. There's actually hardly any problems with various engine parts and that could well be true re. water pumps. But being susceptible to folklore I have just done mine as a belt and braces exercise! Guess what, the shop noticed a leaky belt tensioner and I had that done as well. Phew! If you can afford to do it then go ahead, there's nothing like driving away in your 968 knowing all the essential boxes are ticked and should remain so with routine care and maintenance for lots of miles.Regular changing and flushing of the coolant system may also help the pump as well as keeping the engine block sound."

You can never tell. My 2002 MB ML320 was about to go out of warranty at 99,000 miles when I had it at the dealership. The tech noticed that the water pump was making some noise (I didn't hear it) and replaced it for me under warranty. Well guess what. The replacement NEW water pump went at 120,000 miles 18, months later!!!! I heard it this time.

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[rxter]

It's my impression that the pump is a "while you're in there" thing when you replace the t-belt. Not correct?

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[aslet]

If you have a shop doing the belts, you already are spending most of the money to get it all apart. So for the bit more money its smart I think. My belts had about 30k miles on them and I'm not sure about the pump. I had just got the car for a daily driver and the knowledge that I will be fine is worth the cost. Altogether it cost me like $1350 for the pump nd belts to be done at a real good shop. Worth it to me. Now I can spend money on some fun things, hopefully not an engine rebuild.

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[SILVY968]

I have to get the belts replaced in April.
I replaced the water pump last time RXTER and I were given the same advice.
Now my PM says that he does not recommend a rebuilt pump; " they can only rebuild them so many times".
The last belt/pump job he did used a rebuilt and it leaked immediately; not flat where it met the block.
Now he wants to use only a new pump and they run over $600.

I was going to replace the pump this belt change as well, but now the extra money has made me think about replacing the pump with a new one every other.

Comments?
Brian

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[Lim Yong]

Hi all,
I had mine done @ 80,000 miles along with belt change. Unless you are having tempeture problems, I think a new pump every other belt change is adequate...

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[ds968]

There have been failures of brand new ( dealer/OE )water pumps as well and some well within the first year. I presume those instances are very rare and the failure chances are probably greater with a rebuilt pump, but I guess you never know. I also heard Porsche will only warrant the replacement cost of the part itself, not the labor to reinstall it if the original installation was done by an independent mechanic and not a dealer...same for any collaterla damage which the failure might cause. If true, that's really absurd and I'd think you'd be able to file a small claims court case as a recourse to a denial of labor reimbursement [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]
Then again, they can always take the position the problem was with the installation by whichever mechanic performed the work, leading to the eventual failure..and then it becomes a dragged out battle .. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]

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[F355GTS]

Mine's on it's 2nd pump at 76k Miles, shaft seal failure. Previous oen was replaced at around 52k Miles, don't know the reason

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