Water pump gasket

[just_william]

Hi all
Did my trip to France and back with no probs at all although geezer on French ferry thought I was speeding in his boat because of the sports exhaust when only 5 MPH was achieved. Was kinda funny watching him dance about though. Friendly bunch of happy wavers over the channel too which was appreciated. Whole trip was 900 miles give or take and would you believe that was 1.5 miles of pulling into nice snug UK garage and steam started coming out of all directions. Apparently water pump gasket has gone. Gonna cost about 400 notes. Anyone know why this should happen to a car always warmed up properly and had been plodding along wonderfully just before??

[radzoule]

400 notes?! Check they don't mean the timing cover gasket (see other posts on this forum)

Do it yourself - they're about a fiver and don't need too much dismantling (fanbelt and a couple of hoses). Local range rover parts supplier will be able to get you one.

good luck!

[dave porter]

£400 for a water pump gasket is very expensive, Make sure that the pump face is not warped or damaged/corroded. Fit new pump, its cheaper in the long term.

[just_william]

Well I had the quote confirmed from two TVR dealers and they agreed on the price. Said gasket is pennies but labour intensive. Trouble is its at the garage now and in the process of being put back together again. Will have much closer inspection in the future. Also if pump is warped as you say I would hope the garage would pick this up as they are "Experts"!!!! Cheers for replies though
Jimbo

[radzoule]

I think they're having a bubble bath ... how many hours labour are they charging for the job?

[redleicester]

A "main" stealer charged me £400 for a waper pump gasket, claiming it would take about seventeen years to undo a couple of bolts. I only had it done there as it had peed all over their forecourt! My usual indy laughed muchly at me later and pointed out they would have charged about £100 tops! :grrr:

[just_william]

Really!!!!! well I will ask for an itemised bill and post it on here after the weekend when I pick it up. And I was told that they were cutting their legs off doing it at that price!!!!

[UpTheIron]

I paid £98 for the same job. £400 would be expensive even if it included a new pump.

[sparkythecat]

If it's the water pump gasket - An hours labour and some coolant is all that's needed.
£98 at the stealers could be about right.

If it's the timing cover gasket, it's 4 to 5 hours. Oil and coolant + sundries + vat
dealer rates could knock it up towards £400

Find out more in this thread

[url]www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=41410&[/url]

[just_william]

Wow thats a dead handy photo. Now i'm not so sure now which it is. Maybe if its the timing gasket then I shouldn't be too agrieved. I'm looking forward to reading the bill on Saturday. Thanks very much for that
Jimbo

[andy-w]

you wouldnt get steam comming from the timing gasket???

I changed my water pump a couple of months ago and after looking at the job again it should definately take no longer than an hour...unless you have also been quoted of TVR gaskets and TVR coolant and TVR.....

[just_william]

andy-w said:

unless you have also been quoted of TVR gaskets and TVR coolant and TVR.....

Ha Well there was def lots of steam coming out and it is sitting at a dealers....erm ouch is springing to mind here

[andy-w]

Well at least the work is being done and it will be back on the road soon eh?

If in doubt when they have finished take it to your indie and see what he would charge...it is literally 12 bolts to get the water pump off.

[944gav]

My timing cover gasket went last year - it sprayed water directly onto the exhaust and produced a massive amount of steam!

£400 seems pretty reasonable for a timing cover gasket - mega expensive for a water pump gasket

[sparkythecat]

andy-w said:

you wouldnt get steam comming from the timing gasket???

Oh yes you would! [/pantomime]

Water flows between the engine block and waterpump through waterways in the timing cover itself. A failure in that gasket would cause cause a leak ofpressurised water/steam

[v8 racing]

Woooo guys £400 for a water pump gasket is just insane £400 for a timing cover is still like being kicked in the nads!! there is no reason why a competent rv8 speicilist cant do a timing cover gasket in 2 hrs max plus anti freeze etc.... £150 at the outside!!!!! if you are paying this much for god sake make sure they put the right gasket on!! there are two types which is probably why it went!

[just_william]

v8 racing said:

there are two types which is probably why it went!

If it goes again it will be going straight back thats for sure, especially for that money.

[just_william]

In case anyone still interested, it was the timing cover gasket and price came back with gasket, coolant replaced, oil and filter change all for £379. Car seems to be running lovely.

[radzoule]

Not too bad then. Would have been advising a stiff letter if it was only the water pump. And look on the bright side, if you'd done the job yourself like I did you might have ended up buying an MC1 and vernier timing gear, stage 3 heads, ported inlet manifold, 45mm trumpets and de-cat manifolds, all of which would obviously increase the cost of the job somewhat. So much for doing things yourself to save a little wadge! Well, i figured whilst it was all apart....

[v8 racing]

i dont care what anyone says that is still way over the tops for a front cover gasket christ i only charge a bit more than that for a whole cam change, which needs the gasket doing and oil filter etc... my prices are going up!!