Should I replace my water pump and timing belt at the same time?

While a water pump and timing belt don’t do the same job in your engine, they have a few things in common which is why they are often replaced together.

A timing belt is what drives your water pump, and they also have similar life spans, so it makes sense to have them replaced at the same time.

Additionally, the water pump is directly adjacent to the timing belt. Since getting to the timing belt is such a labor-intensive job, it’s a good idea to have the water pump replaced at the same time to alleviate the effort required to access them, in the end, saving you time and money.

A prime example that indicates a bad water pump is an overheating engine. A damaged water pump is unable to circulate coolant through your vehicle’s engine which will lead it to overheat. If you find your engine getting overheated now and then, it is a sign and must be fixed immediately. Have a mechanical expert like such as the team at Paul Campanella’s Auto and Tire Centers look at your car. If you fail to do so, it can cause more harm by damaging the internal working and seals of the pump.