How many water pumps has your 986 been through?

[Perfectlap]

After 80+K miles I kept putting it off even as recently as missing an appointment to bring it just last week.
Well I guess you know what I'm goint to tell you happened jus this past Sunday night.
A strange new sound started up. I was about 15 minutes from home albeit on the highway. The sound is gettting more noticebable. To the point that I pull over and check the coolant level. Yep only half full. Oh boy. Get in and try to make to at least my Indy's repair shop another 10 minutes away...nope. Lets go five minutes later on the highway and the dash light starts blinking. Flat bed $120 (+$40 tip for the ride to my house). Then a series of unintended brainfade ensues where I forget to remove my house key from the key chain before putting the key in the shop's drop box and of course forgetting my phone in the car. No car, no phone no house keys... $160 for locksmith and $40 for the pre-paid phone I had to buy at the supermarket.

At any rate Flat6 have posted that it is in your best interest to be proactive about the watermpump and replacing it every 40K miles. The factory I belive, if not mistaken, recommend no more than 60K miles on the original water pump. Either way there's no point in waiting until it goes on the highway. I would suggest replacing it when you change the coolant tank, a known weak spot on this car that also went on my car.

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

After 80+K miles I kept putting it off even as recently as missing an appointment to bring it just last week.
Well I guess you know what I'm goint to tell you happened jus this past Sunday night.
A strange new sound started up. I was about 15 minutes from home albeit on the highway. The sound is gettting more noticebable. To the point that I pull over and check the coolant level. Yep only half full. Oh boy. Get in and try to make to at least my Indy's repair shop another 10 minutes away...nope. Lets go five minutes later on the highway and the dash light starts blinking. Flat bed $120 (+$40 tip for the ride to my house). Then a series of unintended brainfade ensues where I forget to remove my house key from the key chain before putting the key in the shop's drop box and of course forgetting my phone in the car. No car, no phone no house keys... $160 for locksmith and $40 for the pre-paid phone I had to buy at the supermarket.

At any rate Flat6 have posted that it is in your best interest to be proactive about the watermpump and replacing it every 40K miles. The factory I belive, if not mistaken, recommend no more than 60K miles on the original water pump. Either way there's no point in waiting until it goes on the highway. I would suggest replacing it when you change the coolant tank, a known weak spot on this car that also went on my car.

Coolent light blink has nothing to do with your pump, only coolent level. I realize your pump was leaking, but if your going to drive a car with a leaky WP anyway, there's no reason to flatbed it, just add a big gulp cup full of water to the res... Make sure the gauge stays in the normal range though. Escalating temps are a reason to stop.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by shadrach74

Coolent light blink has nothing to do with your pump, only coolent level. I realize your pump was leaking, but if your going to drive a car with a leaky WP anyway, there's no reason to flatbed it, just add a big gulp cup full of water to the res... Make sure the gauge stays in the normal range though. Escalating temps are a reason to stop.

I assumed the waterpump failed completely from the smoke that was pouring out of the side. I think it made a last death sound too. I didn't even think to check the coolant level at that point, I just called for the tow. I was even hesitant to start the engine (to drive it off the last few feet of the flatbled) until the car had been shut down for a good 45 minutes in the cold winter temps. Oddly enough until very recently I always kept a gallon of distilled water in the rear trunk...

[WhipE350]

I changed mine for the heck of it at 55k miles, the original was just fine. Clearly from what I'm reading from others they STILL have quality control problems with these pumps. I don't get it, you would think they would find a better manufacturer.

[Henkel986]

99' with a total of 48k on her, had to replace the water pump at 42, 000 miles due to catastrophic failure. Shut the engine off and limped into a parking lot. Had her towed to the dealer and $1100 bucks later she was good as new.