Water pump failed at 64K miles...

[TRIATHLETE]

1999 911 C2

The water pump took a dump on my way to work yesterday. Scary experience as cars were honking at the sight of steam billowed from the rear deck at every light. Luck for me I got to work without overheating.

I searched the site and only found a few posts regarding repair procedure and cost. Thank you Loren for a previous post explaining that the engine needs to be hoisted while the engine mount is removed to access the pump. That info sent me to the yellow pages instead of the tool box.

Bottom line - $988 from an indie to replace the water pump, thermostat, housing, new gasket, hoses and coolant flush. He quoted six hours labor at $93/hr.

What concerns me is the frequency this indie says he's replacing water pumps. He says 911s and Boxers are routinely coming in for water pumps with 50-65K miles on them. Anyone else had to replace their water pump yet?

FWIW - I love the response from another local indie advertising their expreience with P-cars, and I quote... "The water pump is $290 and I'll have to get back to you with the labor quote as I've never replaced one..." Needless to say he never called back - thank god! . <_<

[eastriver]

i don't think i heard a lot of cases about water pump, at least for 996, there are some cases for boxster.

any sign before it gave up? load noise when engine was cold, etc?

[TRIATHLETE]

any sign before it gave up? load noise when engine was cold, etc?

Zip, nada, nothing... No sign of a problem until yesterday. I heard a strange sound coming out of the back of the car like marbles rolling around in a tin can as I left my part of town yesterday. 10 miles down and off the highway the excitmenet started. I pulled over to make sure it was steam and not a fire back there. Water temp was normal - only small leakage, so I decided to make the last two miles to work.

It was sounding pretty bad this morning as I topped it off and limped it into the shop 2 miles from the office. Coolant was leaking out the water pump pretty well at the shop when I left it.

On a positive note, I saved $600 doing the 60K service myself a few months ago so the unexpected expense is somewhat offset.

[viper501]

What hoses is he going to replace? My pump died at over 100k (IIRC). I think total bill on it was about five hundred. Would have done it myself but didn't have adequate time.

[TRIATHLETE]

What hoses is he going to replace? My pump died at over 100k (IIRC). I think total bill on it was about five hundred. Would have done it myself but didn't have adequate time.

Turns out the hoses were just fine - no need to replace. The some of the plastic vanes in the water pump were broken off - pictures to follow. Here's the bill:

Labor - R&R waterpump, Therm housing 6hrs @ $93 = $558

Part - 996 106 011 54 Water Pump 1 @ $270

Part - 996 106 121 53 Thermostat Housing 1 @ $37

Part - 000 043 301 05 Coolant/Antifreeze 1 @ $45

Parts $352.36

Labor $558.00

Hazmat $2.00

Supplies $12.00

Tax $63.73

Total $988.09

Sounds like you got a real deal at $500

[viper501]

Labor rate is about right but the time is pretty high. Don't know if that is book or not. Thermostat housing should not need to be replaced. Will need a gasket for it but that is cheap. From the sound of it, your pump ate itself like mine did. Bearings died allowing the shaft to wobble the impeller around.