Water pump too? (w/timing belt change)

[Monzaveo]

Just wondering if people also change the waterpump out on their first timing belt change.

I'm thinking of skipping it, just putting in a new gasket, and changing it at the next belt change, which will be at 120k miles.

I think you have to do a ton extra to get the water pump off...

Remove the valve cover and cam sprockets...

Much more than I want to get into for just a timing belt change.

Are these pumps notorious for seizing up before 120k ?

[petrified.rabbit]

do it, i think it costs like $40, and it should unbolt and pull straight out (99% of the time)

an extra hour and $40 is worth the prevention of a over heating.

[Monzaveo]

If its that easy I will, but i think the service manual is saying the cam gears and the rear timing cover gotta come off.

[Wolfman AK907]

I would say you should be fine, but if you're gonna change the gasket anyways you might as well just change it dude. Mine on my s10 didn't get changed until I built a new motor for it at 134K. It was leaking a little bit for about 1000 miles before that and I live in the frigid cold. You should be able to make it to 120K, but don't risk it.

[petrified.rabbit]

If its that easy I will, but i think the service manual is saying the cam gears and the rear timing cover gotta come off.

i wish i could tell you for sure, but the 09 has a different engine.


most cars i have worked on design the engine so the water pump is service-able though. so it should be easy.

the manual is also written with only one complete tear down, so even if they removed the gears etc.. that might not be actually necessary.

[ontarian_frog]

Here is a how-to

http://home.earthlink.net/~aveobot/id1.html

[Wolfman AK907]

Nice find!

[petrified.rabbit]

i have never seen a water pump used as the timing belt tensioner...

[Monzaveo]

Here is a how-to

http://home.earthlink.net/~aveobot/id1.html

Yep thats the how to I'm going by. (Although I'm going to make an even better one).

I even bought the same belt he used.

He re-used the waterpump, just used a new gasket, and thats what I'm gonna do.

A new water pump is another 50 to 100 bucks away, and you have to remove more stuff to change it, so I'm gonna wait till next time.

[atcovan]

i have never seen a water pump used as the timing belt tensioner...

Actually, the tensioner is a separate, but fixed, spring-loaded pulley componet. The water pump is rotated for proper adjustment. There's no need to mess with the cam timing gears.