How Often Should I Replace My Water Pump?

With any luck, you shouldn’t have to replace a water pump even if you keep a vehicle for 10 years or more; they often last that long. Unless a water pump starts to leak, makes unusual noises or quits working, there’s generally no need to replace it. An exception is that, on some vehicles, the water pump is hidden from view behind the timing cover, driven by the timing belt. Because replacing a timing belt requires removing a lot of other parts, mechanics often recommend the water pump be replaced at the same time to avoid future labor costs.