[Chris Vais]

The original water pump went well over 100K miles before it failed. I was experiencing higher than normal water temperatures and it just failed altogether making a high pitched whine. My PM, an independent shop, replaced it with a rebuild, which began leaking in the shop, to be replaced by a second rebuild, which began leaking a week after installation, to be replaced with a new one from Porsche. The PM did not charge me for the labor on the second and third replacement. The new pump lasted about 4 years, 40,000, miles and then crapped out this past spring. At $600 a pop I really don't like the idea of replacing them every 30K miles when I do the belts.

It is interesting to note, if you go back through this string that most of us went 100K miles or more before the original punmp failed. But the frequency of failure on new or rebuilt replacements is more frequent.

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[rxter]

GTS - that S Club looks great in white.

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[rico35]

"It is interesting to note, if you go back through this string that most of us went 100K miles or more before the original punmp failed. But the frequency of failure on new or rebuilt replacements is more frequent. "

Thanks for information.
My 968 covered only 55k miles. And my Porches center quotes a water pump (about 500€) with belts replacement. So, it look like it is not required for now...

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[durtkillon]

If my records are correct, my car is getting it's first water pump at 98K miles. It wasn't visibly leaking, but my mechanic said it was seeping. The whole top end is being done and my water pump part of the deal.

For the record, I plan to use an OEM water pump.

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[firefish]

So what is my conclusion after reading this thread?

It would seem that a pump can last at least 150k miles and an untold number of years before it either fails or gets replaced, although sometimes they fail a LOT sooner. It may be a good idea to replace the pump on a regular basis (belt change), but on the other hand you might remove one of the 150k units in favour of one of those thats fails the next week. Or year. The new OEM pumps seem a tad more reliable than the rebuilt ones, although nothing is certain.

At 600USD/500€ a piece and at a recommended rate of change at say 25k miles you have gone through five pumps in 150k miles (about to mount nr 6). That adds up to 3000USD or 2500€. What's the price for a good head job (that probably needs to be done anyway as a nice resto or prep for the s/c)?

But then it is rather nice to know that, as a previous poster put it, all the boxes are ticked. And when/if the pump fails on you at the worst possible moment, at that time the 600 USD you <i>could</i> have spent just to be safe is going to seem like a bargain.

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[DaveN]

Just remember whatever you do eBay can be your friend (sometimes) I just bought a new 968 German waterpump for 150.00 USD -Deutsche Parts USA. Shipping was 40.00 but it beat the heck out of Porches price.

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