Water pump died!

[Starkie]

Hi all,

I've recently bought a 06 XC90 which seems to be ticking all the right boxes, big car 7 seats etc.

My partner was driving to take the kids to one of their clubs when (according to her) the car made a funny noise and stopped. On inspection there was a big coolant leak.

The next day I called the AA to get the car towed. When the chap inspected the car he feared the worst, exsplaining that the water pump had gone taking out the timing belt along with damage to the valves.

Before being towed I called a garage for a estimate on the work required to fix it and was told in the region of £5000. I didn't go ahead, so took the car to another garage.

I got a phone call from the garage, they took a punt and changed the water pump and timing belt now the car runs! But reading up on this issue online I was under the impression that it would have lead to serious engine damage, the mechanic just said I was very lucky.

Is it possible for this to happen and have I just been very lucky? Or could this lead to further issues down the line? Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Starkie

Hi all,

I've recently bought a 06 XC90 which seems to be ticking all the right boxes, big car 7 seats etc.

My partner was driving to take the kids to one of their clubs when (according to her) the car made a funny noise and stopped. On inspection there was a big coolant leak.

The next day I called the AA to get the car towed. When the chap inspected the car he feared the worst, exsplaining that the water pump had gone taking out the timing belt along with damage to the valves.

Before being towed I called a garage for a estimate on the work required to fix it and was told in the region of £5000. I didn't go ahead, so took the car to another garage.

I got a phone call from the garage, they took a punt and changed the water pump and timing belt now the car runs! But reading up on this issue online I was under the impression that it would have lead to serious engine damage, the mechanic just said I was very lucky.

Is it possible for this to happen and have I just been very lucky? Or could this lead to further issues down the line? Any advice would be much appreciated.

wow that is the first water pump failure on a volvo alloy block engine i have heard of in 27 years irrespective of mileage . Can you show us a picture of the failed pump?

[steadvex]

Any idea if it's the original pump? Curious if a cheaper aftermarket one was fitted when the timing belt was changed?

[luggsey]

When I had my timing belt changed the garage asked if they should put a new pattern water pump on, I declined as I had heard advice on here that original Volvo pumps don't usually fail.
Even money that's a pattern pump.

[Starkie]

Hi clan,

No unfortunately I can't as the car is in the garage. When the AA mechanic added water he said he could see it leaking from the water pump which in turn knackers the timing belt resulting in damageing the engine.

I'm no mechanic so can only go by what I'm told. But I did think that this is possible if the water pump is not changed at regular intervals.

[Starkie]

Originally Posted by steadvex

Any idea if it's the original pump? Curious if a cheaper aftermarket one was fitted when the timing belt was changed?

No I don't know unfortunately. Even so would the pump failure result in damaging the engine?

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by Starkie

No I don't know unfortunately. Even so would the pump failure result in damaging the engine?

Depends on failure mode:

Leaked and lost all coolant and the engine continued to operate = possible engine damage through overheating

Bearing seized and pump self destructed and metal parts flew around engine bay = potential engine damage through foreign object impact

Pully fell off and belts came off and water pump, alternator, aircon and power steering pumps stopped working and the engine continued to operate = possible engine damage through overheating

All depends what went wrong

But normally, if the belt falls of, and as long as you stopped the engine, all that would happen is the water pump stops pumping coolant, the air con pump stops working and thus no air con, the power steering pump stops working and thus no power steering, the alternator stops turning and thus no battery charging. So no engine damage.

But depends on failure mode.

[Starkie]

Thank you for the detailed explanation it makes a lot more sense now.

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Depends on failure mode:

Leaked and lost all coolant and the engine continued to operate = possible engine damage through overheating

Bearing seized and pump self destructed and metal parts flew around engine bay = potential engine damage through foreign object impact

Pully fell off and belts came off and water pump, alternator, aircon and power steering pumps stopped working and the engine continued to operate = possible engine damage through overheating

All depends what went wrong

But normally, if the belt falls of, and as long as you stopped the engine, all that would happen is the water pump stops pumping coolant, the air con pump stops working and thus no air con, the power steering pump stops working and thus no power steering, the alternator stops turning and thus no battery charging. So no engine damage.

But depends on failure mode.

[owenfackrell]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Depends on failure mode:

Leaked and lost all coolant and the engine continued to operate = possible engine damage through overheating

Bearing seized and pump self destructed and metal parts flew around engine bay = potential engine damage through foreign object impact

Pully fell off and belts came off and water pump, alternator, aircon and power steering pumps stopped working and the engine continued to operate = possible engine damage through overheating

All depends what went wrong

But normally, if the belt falls of, and as long as you stopped the engine, all that would happen is the water pump stops pumping coolant, the air con pump stops working and thus no air con, the power steering pump stops working and thus no power steering, the alternator stops turning and thus no battery charging. So no engine damage.

But depends on failure mode.

Isn't the water pump cam belt driven on the D5?

[Starkie]

Just had a call from the garage and it turns out the works carried out to repair have failed. Garage is saying the cost to fix will be more than the car is worth.

So I'm now looking for a new xc90. If you know of any please let me know