[chamilka]

While driving on the street, the drive belt of my 1997 Boxster (with 90k+ miles) snapped, accompanied by an audible noise and a subsequent loss of power steering. Promptly suspecting the belt as the culprit, I stopped the car and had it towed home. Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the belt had been shredded. Notably, all accessory rollers were functioning smoothly without any noticeable play, and the water pump pulley turned seamlessly. There were no signs of oil or coolant leaks.

I have already placed an order for a new belt. My primary concern is whether the water pump could be the cause of the issue. Given the absence of leaks and the smooth operation of the water pump pulley, Is it fair to assume that the water pump is in good condition?. Would it be advisable to start by replacing the belt and assessing the situation from there?

for ref: water pump was last replaced in 2016 about 20k miles ago.
Thank all