Why is it that auto shops suggest replacing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt?
The majority of the cost of replacing a timing belt is due to the labor because of the location of the timing belt in the engine compartment. As you can see from the diagram, the water pump has a similar location. The water pump pushes engine coolant through your car’s cooling system. That makes it a very important part to a functioning care. Rather than incur the labor charges to replace the water pump separately, we recommend you replace both at the same time. The additional cost to replace the water pump while replacing the timing belt, depending on make and model, is around $100-$200.
