My car has been so trouble free that I knew sooner or later I'd have a problem. Started it up the other day and hear a clanging noise from under the hood. Drove around for several days, the noise persisted, but the car drove fine. So, this morning I take it to a shop, pop the hood, start the engine and... the noise is gone. But the mechanic looking at it found another problem - leaking coolant. He says it's most likely the water pump. He then says that if he replaces the water pump, the timing belt and some other parts need to be replaced as well (I don't remember everything he listed.) Basically, according to him, every time a timing belt comes off, it needs to be replaced. The entire job - $800-1000. Yikes!! Is this true or can I just replace the water pump alone for less? Anyone done this? Appreciate any advice.

 

How many miles are on your car? The water pump and timing belt are convenient to change at the same time because it requires basically the same amount of labor. If you have above 75,000 miles on your car, go ahead and do both or it will cost you $1,500 separately with this guy who quoted you.

Since I see your kind of new to the board, check this site out:
www.endwrench.com

-Charles-

 

Thanks for the link. The car has 150,000, but the timing belt was replaced at 120,000. Anyways, I'll probably just go ahead and replace everything, once I get a second opinion from another mechanic. This way my conscience will be clear.

 

With that being said, only 30,000 miles on the timing belt, I'd wait another 75,000 miles to replace the T-belt and just replace the water pump. If you average 15,000 miles a year, that's 5 more years you can go without having to worry about the timing belt.

When you had the T-belt changed at 120,000 did you have the tensioners replaced. If you have the money, sure it would be good to go ahead and change the T-belt, but you just did it 30,000 miles ago and Subaru only calls for a T-belt change every 105,000.

-Charles-

 

The problem is, the mechanic I talked to said he wouldn't do it without replacing the belt, which seemed weird to me... Do you have any idea how much a water pump would cost? Unfortunately, I don't remember if the tensioners were replaced. How often should they be?

 

I'd find another mechanic. There's no need to spend extra money when you don't have to. Second, when I change my t-belt at 105,000 miles I'm going to also replace the tensioners and water pump. So, if I remember correctly, they should be changed with the timing belt.

What year is your car? A price quote on my '98 L for a water pump was between $40-$100. Here is a link:
http://www.partsamerica.com/SelectPa...For=Water+Pump

If this same mechanic replaced the t-belt, ask him if he remembers changing the tensioners. If not, I'd go ahead and replace the t-belt and tensiors along with your water pump change.

-Charles-

 

Today I took the car to a shop on campus and it turned out a bunch of timing belt covers were broken on closer inspection. The list of needed parts also includes some seals, so the total comes out to almost $600 in part alone. Went to subaruparts.com, found everything for $330. Nice site.
The water pump was pretty cheap, $50-something. My car is '95 with 150,000 mi, so I guess it's not strange that the pump went.
Anyways, thanks for your advice guys. BTW, are there any "performance" water pumps out there? Never heard of anyone upgrading theirs.... Just curious.

 

its called CYA, if he removes the timing belt and then it breaks he doesn't want you to come back and blame him.
BTW is this the same shop that replaced the belt originally? If not. I don't blame the mechanic for wanting to replace the belt.