I don't drive my car (1999 V40 T4 PH1) very much maybe once a week just a few miles and back with the occasional longer trips.
Today when i got home from a short drive i notice the cooling fans running for an excessive amount of time when i parked up which was unusual so I checked the coolant bottle and it was strangely empty, I topped it up with water and it took about a pint, seemed like the system was full to the bottom of the bottle or thereabouts.
I couldnt fathom how this had happened and i looked at the dipstick and in the oil filler cap for water in the oil in case it was a headgasket failure but there was no sign at all.
Later on I want back to the car and the coolant bottle was low again so i topped it up and decided to run it for a bit, it seemed fine and got up to temperature until the fan kicked in etc.
Then i looked underneath and what i initially though was just spillage water from me topping up actually looked like a pretty regualr drip.
The more i ran the car the drip continued.
I couldnt see exactly where it was coming from but it looked like from somewhere in the belts etc plastc housing.
So im thinking i have a leaking water pump, does that sound like a fair guess?
Looking at the sticker on the belt cover the belts were changed at 50 something thousand miles and the car is now on 70 thousand,
ive read that water pums are usually changed when the belts are but i guess this one might not have been.
Can anyone give me a guestimate on the cost of getting the water pump replaced and better still a reputable place in london that would do it (presuming belt kit and tensioners would also be done at this point so would be extra cost) ive found pump and belt kits online for about £80 and i'm guessing maybe £200 labour? its just where to get it done and rather anoyingly i really need the car for a 2 hour drive on friday morning
Thanks to anyone who can throw some thoughts at it.
Cheers!
Neil