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FCP Euro Service Kits

FCP Euro Kits

This was a dilemma that I (and most other owners) was faced with when about to do the timing belt service on my Volvo S70; whether or not to replace the water pump. The water pumps on these Volvos tend to be very reliable. However, the water pump is driven off of the timing belt and is just a susceptible to causing catastrophic engine damage if it goes wrong. If your water pump seizes it will jam or break the timing belt. If you are having the timing belt service done at a dealer or with an independent shop I would recommend asking them to change the water pump as well. With the amount of money you would be spending on labor and parts for the service (~$900), its wise to spend the extra on the water pump. If you are DIYing the timing belt service, not doing the water pump if not required could save you a good chunk of money, but first you need to do some detective work to make sure yours is functioning well.

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If there are obvious signs your water pump is failing, replace it immediately. 

As stated above, it is quite rare for the OEM water pump to fail at 105,000mi, but don't rule it out.

If you see any signs of a coolant leak on the lower part of the timing belt cover or see drips on the passenger side of the engine, replace it and the gasket.

Also, once you get the timing belt off, grab the pulley and see how it spins. Does it spin freely? See if it moves in and out, indicating "slap" in the bearing. If the bearing wears out enough, the impeller may move towards the block and get jammed.

Age

The age of the water pump you should be certain on if you are considering not replacing it. Many people say it is not necessary to replace it with every timing belt service and say that every other timing belt service is okay. If you were not the owner when the last replacement was done, make sure you have records to back up its age. However, if you have any doubts as to when the water pump was last replaced, do it. While it may not be showing any tall-tale signs of replacement, it will certainly give you piece of mind.

My Experience

Earlier this year, I completed a full timing belt service on my 98 S70. I debated as weather or not to do the water pump as not doing it could save me a significant amount of money. My water pump expressed no signs of failure and was operating as it should before the replacement...my S70 had 235k miles on it at this time. I usually work with the mentality of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, I was not interested in doing this service again in the worst case situation.

I decided to do some more research as to when mine was last done. In the service records, I found that just the timing belt and tensioner was replaced at 145k so I knew the current water pump had well over 100k on it. I bit the bullet and replaced it. (Please note, the timing belt replacement interval on the P80 cars is 70,000 miles from 93-98, and 105,000 miles from 99-on)

Once I got the old pump off, to my surprise, it was an OEM Volvo pump in perfect condition. It looked, and mechanically felt new! The replacement unit was from HEPU and looked and felt identical to the old one. The gasket was also in very good shape.

My one tip for DIYers replacing their water pump is to clean the mating surface WELL. The gasket was very strong on my old pump and some of it stuck to the block. Take some sandpaper or a small wire brush and spend some time cleaning the mating surface so the new gasket can seat properly. Also, do not over tighten the bolts.

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My OEM Volvo (Aisin) Pump after ~130k, bearing still felt tight! (Green is the original gasket)

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About the Author: Noah Jenkins

Noah_headshotNoah Jenkins is attending the University of Connecticut studying Electrical Engineering. He’s been around Volvos since birth and currently drives and maintains a 1998 S70. His knowledge and interest in European vehicles expands to BMW, Audi, and Land Rover as well.

 


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Written by :
Noah Jenkins

Noah Jenkins is attending the University of Connecticut studying Electrical Engineering. He’s been around Volvos since birth. His knowledge and interest in European vehicles expands to Audi, BMW and Land Rover as well. He currently drives and maintains a 2004 Audi A4 Avant and a 1996 Volvo 850


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