My water pump froze up and snapped by timing belt. Dealer wants $4,300 to fix it up. Car has 185,000 miles. I really love this car. Would hate to give it up but is it worth it? Thinking about taking to indy mechanic. Would welcome feedback.

Where in Florida are you? Perhaps I know someone for you to take it to. I purchased a 94 wagon (250K) with a blown headgasket and a rod knock for $500.00 and fixed it up for my brother. I purchased a motor and transmission with the wiring harness out of a 96 850 (98K) so that I could upgrade to a set up that I believe is stronger. The cost of the motor/trans/harness was $1200.00. An independent should be able to find you a low mileage, leak down tested motor for appx $950.00, with moderate mark up, plus shipping. Labor should be around the $1000.00 mark. New plugs, seals, timing belt, serpentine belt, waterpump, filters, thermostat, freon, fluids, etc. would cost appx $200.00. So, for a really good used resealed motor, with numerous new parts, you could have a car that should last you an easy additional 150K, for around $2500.00.

Or you could slap a rebuilt head on it, and that would set you back around $1600.00.

If you have serviced your car like you should, and the suspension is tight, and the air conditioning works, etc., etc., I would fix it. I sold a 94 wagon for one of my customers to one of my customers just last week for $4500.00, so yes, your car is worth at least as much as you are about to spend. Keep your car if you love her. Name her "Perrier" if you need to expel some anger.

Chris

I'm located in Daytona Beach. My indy mechanic has suggested he can fix it for about $3,000. I don't want to spend more than than. In fact, $2,500 sounds a lot better. And, yeah, I love my car. I know is sounds sappy but I like the way it looks and feels ,

question for you mechanics out there.

Does a broken water pump usually result in a snapped timing belt and thereby blowing the engine? I have a 1994 850 with 135,000 miles on it. Should I get the water pump replaced when I have the timing belt changing at 140,000?

Keith

I just replaced my waterpump as a preventative measure when I did my timing belt at 203k. I felt very uneasy that I had left it go this long. There was a bit of residue of antifreeze on it, but it spun very freely. While I was in there, I also replaced the tensioner pulley, and the stationary idler pulley. (You could hear the bearings, and there was some slop) The hyaudralic tensioner piston was replaced at 140k, seemed quite fine (took forever to comress it, no oil residue) so I didn't replace that. Just do the math. If anything in the timing belt area fails, you're talking bent valves, maybe more, and $$$$$$. When you take into account how often American car water pumps fail, I have even less reservations about replacing it as a preventative measure.

Jason

I spin it on every timing belt change, and recommend it, as well as the tensioner every other timing belt change.

Chris

Yes replace it. Do the math if in doubt.

Dealer is probably just high balling you hoping you'll buy something else (from him of course). I'm guessing and indy will do it way less than that if you shop around.

Your car is not worth that kind of money to put into it. I'm assuming the snapped belt caused engine damage, but even rebuilding it shoudn;t be more than $1,500 plus the water pump and belt. I think your dealer is just saying to you it's not worth it, but you should investigate with another reputable independent to see what they say. I know it's a pain in the butt to get the car hauled over to another mechanic, but I guess if you love the car enough, it is worht it to you. He could even swap in a used engine for around $1500.

Marty - 1996 850 GLT 225,000 miles and still going

i would imagine the dealer quoted for a brand new engine rather than a rebuilt one....

Marty,

Very nice 225 K and going strong very nice........... any secrets ? I love a long mile Volvo story.

Lee
95 5spd 148K