Ok so I just recently Bought the car about 2 months ago and the timing belt is due. So I called the Mech and asked if he can give me a quote how much to replace a timing belt. He said that since we are replacing the timing belt, might as well replace the water bump since its part of the job.

Now the questions
Do I really HAVE to replace the the Water Pump?
How long is the average life of it before it starts to acting up?

 

If you have to take it to a mechanic to have the service done. Do the pump.
If its the 60k service and it isn't a big deal for you to do it yourself, I'd hold off until 120k. I've never had an OE Mitsu pump fail before 120k on any of my cars, so I personally would wait until then. The one you replace it with could fail in 30k. You never know. Change your coolant every two years. It has lubricants and corrosion inhibitors that break down over time.

 

Replace the water pump while he's doing the timing belt. Because if your water pump goes after he does the belt, you will be charged alot of money again because he has to take the belt off to take the water pump off anyway

 

Change it:

I Just did my Timing belt service and had a new pump to change. Mechanic said it was was fine on the outside and there was no leaking but I still insisted on doing it because the car's 10 Years old this year and I dunno what others may have used coolant wise in the 7 years prior to me owning it.

What did we see when it was removed?



Do it just for peace of mind.

 

Interesting. That is cavitation damage.

For those wondering, this from the "Collins dictionary of Physics"; the formation of small, short-lived, low pressure regions (cavities) in a liquid....As the cavities collapse, they produce shock waves which cause much damage to nearby solid surfaces.

 

That looks like running water only in the radiator with no antifreeze with lots of rust

 

Or also previous owners not changing the fuid on time...

 

The car is at 73,000 miles. I'm not sure if the previous owner replaced the timing belt that's the reason why I want to do it to make sure.

 

Damn that thing is junk!

I personally didn't replace mine and it was fine up to 105k miles. It looked nothing like that one but then again it was probably cared for better.

 

you could always get a new gasket for your water pump, then just pull it off, inspect, and put back on with the new gasket if it appears to be holding up. those IX pumps are pricey compared to the VIII's, so i can see your concern for necessities.

 

Well I did my timing job at 89800 miles. Also here in Trinidad and Tobago cars on the whole see more 'severe' conditions... much less an oven heat producing evo.

Mind you the pump actually spins fine. the impeller doesn't rock, nothing; just the damage you see. But then as I said before, you never know what you're going to get when buying other people's used cars... It didn't even have a front stabalizer bar...

When this car came from Japan in what we term 'forign used' market back in 2001 they came with engine and suspension separated as that's how they were allowed in at the time. But of course back then evo VII's never came to the states and parts wern't exactly available. It also doesn't help that our currency already has things expensive (present day our currency is $6.50 to one USD and $11.00 to one UK pound) and customs and import duties are harsh for anything and especially for automotive stuff at 30% duty and 15% VAT.

So naturally, people cut corners. When I changed out my Radiator for a Mishimoto from MAP, I was shocked to se about a 2" hole in the OEM rad they welded the channels back for: and even more when I cut my brand new Samco lower hose cause the 'OEM' one was shorter, only to realise... they used a Toyota hose... (yes I was mad)

Anyway that went WAY off topic. Point is, when you buy something used, you don't know what others have done/ neglected to do, so when it comes time to do work like timing belts and water pump, pullies etc I suggest having em all replaced and you'll know at least you can sleep at night

 

Might as well just wait another 50k and replace the water pump then.

UNLESS you plan on going on some very long road trips in which case if it went out you wouldn't want to be stuck.