Alfa Romeo GT, 2004, 1.9 jtd - water pump failure, shredded cam belt

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Sun 13 Mar 2011 17:38
Alfa Romeo GT, 2004, 1.9 jtd - water pump failure, shredded cam belt - charms1713

Cam belt changed at 46,000 miles on purchase of car. 5 months later and 4000 miles, water pump seized and shredded the cam belt causing £2000 of damage. claim against finance company was not up held as independent engineer reported that I should of heard a noise prior to the water pump seizing. Also the bearings would be put down to fair wear and tear. never heard any noise, I have heard that they can seize suddenly. The car was bought from alfa specialist and they insist that they would not normally change a water pump when changing the cam belt. I find this hard to believe as the water pump is driven by the cam belt, wouldn't any good garage recommend the change? any advice would be grateful.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 13 Mar 2011 18:09
Alfa Romeo GT, 2004, 1.9 jtd - water pump failure, shredded cam belt - injection doc
I always changed water pump if cam belt driven and if a customer didnt want to pay for a change I used to ask them to sign a disclaimer.
Technically the water pump would of made some noise , mainly cam gear may of been noisier cold due to the belt being looser but this would only really be noticable to a tuned ear. I could not garrentee that you would of heared the pump failing prior to it seizing. The "engineer" is wrong, he could not say that set in stone you would hear it !
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 13 Mar 2011 22:17
Alfa Romeo GT, 2004, 1.9 jtd - water pump failure, shredded cam belt - V4 Heaven

HJ's own advice on this website is to replace the water pump when the cambelt is changed. Surely the Alfa garage would have known this and maybe it would have stopped the problem.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 14 Mar 2011 19:34
Alfa Romeo GT, 2004, 1.9 jtd - water pump failure, shredded cam belt - charms1713

Every mechanic that i've spoken with have said the same thing. A water pump driven by the cam belt should always been changed when the cam belt is done, or at least the customer should be advised that it should be done. D&J Autos in leighton Buzzard have the cheek to call themselfs Alfa specialists. Avoid at all cost, once you've took the car, their not interested about after sales.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 15 Mar 2011 06:35
Alfa Romeo GT, 2004, 1.9 jtd - water pump failure, shredded cam belt - jonny10buds

Every cambelt I've done without changing the water pump has resulted in the pump failing within a few thousand miles, I think the new belt puts an extra/different load on the pump bearings, now I change the pump every time, it's a false economy not too.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 15 Mar 2011 08:03
Alfa Romeo GT, 2004, 1.9 jtd - water pump failure, shredded cam belt - davmal
Maybe you were overtightening them.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link