I am replacing my timing belt this week. I have 135,000 miles on my 1994 850 with a manual transmission. Should I change the water pump while I have the front of the engine dismantled? Has anyone experienced a problem with their waterpump?

Thanks,

Edwin

The Volvo water pump does not seem to fail often, so most people recommend leaving it alone until you have a problem.

But it does happen! Mine began to leak at about 70k, not long after the timing belt was replaced. Darn the luck.

Gerald C

I had the same experience with my 97 850. I took it in for a timing belt and it turned out that the water pump had a small leak. Therefore, it was a no brainer to go ahead and fix it.

My independent shop advised that it was very rare for the pump to go up at 74K. However, knowing the luck that I have had with this car, it kind of figures that mine would leak at 74K.


Don

I picked up a 95 GLT a couple weeks ago with 102K on it. I was able to verify that the timing belt had not been changed but all the other factory maintenance had. I took it immediately to my local independent Volvo mechanic to have it changed. While there he said that the water pump had a leak and it would be logical to change it while in there. He stated that this was on the early side for this to happen from what he has seen.

I would think that doing it now would reduce the worry and be the last/only time you would have to do it.

Big differences in prices between Volvo OEM water pump and good prices for high quality German replacements on the web ($150 down to ~$50) I paid in the middle of the range.

Steve