Should I replace my water pump?

[DavidD]

I am looking for some advice. I have a 2001 S60 T5 with 100K miles. I am going to have the timing belt replaced at the next service and am getting conflicting advice regarding the water pump. I use both the dealership and a highly regarded private shop for service. The private shop recommends replacing the water pump along with the timing belt, the dealership does not.
Does anyone have an opinion or experience with this?

[jblackburn]

It's cheap insurance. At 100K, the pump is probably still perfectly fine. But if the coolant in the car has never been flushed/changed in its life, there's likely some corrosion on the blades that will cause it to fall apart before the next change at the 200K milestone. At 140K when mine was changed, the water pump still looked like it was in good shape, so I'll be holding out til 200-210 on it.

[JDS60R]

Change it. No question about it - Change it.

Any pump bearing that has given you 100K of service is well due for a change. The new timing belt and tesioner will put a different level of tension on the waterpump that it has not experienced since new. Many of the pumps that do fail- fail shortly after replacing the tensioner and belt. Do not risk it. Change the pump.

[anthonyhicks]

my s60 hit 105k miles.water pump failed and warped my head. Costs to repair over $1,000

[precopster]

At that sort of mileage you would have to be looking long and deep for reasons NOT TO REPLACE.

[priapism]

Timing belt / water pump go together like peas / carrots and peanut butter / jelly. We pronounce the two items as a single word: timingbeltwaterpump.

[RaymanSean]

The prudent practice is to replace the pump with the timing belt. However, you are warned that replacing the pump does not guarantee you 100K with out failure. The new pump just reduces your chances failure.