Hey guys and gals. So this is my first post on the forum and I'm glad that it's on this topic. I would like to apologize ahead of time if this topic has been brought up before and if it has can anyone point me in the right direction. Ok I just bought my second Pathfinder, the first was a 95 and it was when I was fresh out of High school and honestly i knew nothing about cars so i drove it wrecklessly and foolishly paid some other guy to fix it all the time and eventually my mom sold it, i didnt know it then but i would eventually regret it. So some 12 years later and with a wife and a 9 month old son and some 5 years of working on friends and familys cars I bought my 98 pathfinder i fell in love with it as soon as i saw it however to the point of the thread it needs to have the water pump replaced. at the moment i dont seem to be deterred by the job but the only concern i have is that the guy at the auto parts store said ill have to take the timing belt off and several other people have said the same. Now my concern is that i dont like to meddle with timing belts so ive always worked around them and to this day ive been lucky that ive never had to. So does anyone know if this is true or can i actually remove the water pump with out having to touch the timing belt. I know that its a good idea to switch it out specially if coolant has been dripping on it and I probably will if theres no other choice so with that said can it be done or should i just suck it up and get in there.
well thanks guys for listening to my short rant b4 i got to the point and any feedback would be appreciated.
98 Pathfinder waterpump/timing belt worries.
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Brian VT
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:07 am
- Car: 2000 Pathfinder bought at 110k miles 9/26/16
Re: 98 Pathfinder waterpump/timing belt worries.
I just did my timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and t-stat. I don't see how you could change the pump without removing the belt.
When was your timing belt last replaced? Why not replace it? It's cheap insurance.
If it fails then you're engine is done.
You might approach it the way I did. I needed a new timing belt but figured I'd replace the water pump while I was in there.
Do all the unskilled labor yourself up to the point of removing the belt. Hire a mechanic buddy to come by to change the belt and pump. Reassemble the unskilled stuff after he leaves. I gave my buddy $200 and he had to drive 1/2 hr. each way. I think it only took him 1hr.-1 1/2hrs. to change the belt and pump.
It's also a good idea to change the upper coolant hose while you're in there.
When was your timing belt last replaced? Why not replace it? It's cheap insurance.
If it fails then you're engine is done.
You might approach it the way I did. I needed a new timing belt but figured I'd replace the water pump while I was in there.
Do all the unskilled labor yourself up to the point of removing the belt. Hire a mechanic buddy to come by to change the belt and pump. Reassemble the unskilled stuff after he leaves. I gave my buddy $200 and he had to drive 1/2 hr. each way. I think it only took him 1hr.-1 1/2hrs. to change the belt and pump.
It's also a good idea to change the upper coolant hose while you're in there.
Re: 98 Pathfinder waterpump/timing belt worries.
It seems pretty easy. I was just wondering if there was any other procedures I'd have to do other than aligning the dimples with the marks on the belt and yeah the upper coolant hose might be a good idea to replace I was thinking of doing that as well. Thanks Brian for ur input.
Re: 98 Pathfinder waterpump/timing belt worries.
Which part is the upper coolant hose? I'm about to do a water pump and timing belt replacement as well. Could someone provide a PN?