How much does a water pump replacement cost?

How much does it cost to replace a car water pump?

According to our research, the water pump replacement cost (UK) usually ranges between £120 and £375 (but can be a lot more expensive for sports and luxury models).

The average water pump replacement cost works out at approximately £200, including parts and labour.

Can I carry out a car water pump replacement myself?

Replacing a car water pump isn’t as straightforward as you might think. We’d suggest only a competent and experienced home mechanic undertake this repair/replacement. If you don’t get things quite right, the consequences can be severe, leading to engine failure.

Replacing the pump itself isn’t the hard part—it’s removing and reconnecting the timing belts or chains, and that’s a job better left to a qualified mechanic.

What are the water pump replacement costs at a dealership compared to Fixter garages?

If you replace your water pump with Fixter, on average, we save our customers around 30% against dealership prices. Not only do you save money, but you also receive superb end-to-end service.

It’s the most convenient way to carry out car repairs, upgrades, services, and MOTs you’ll find. Who else collects your car and delivers it back to you when the work is complete?

Water Pump Replacement from £144

What additional factors could affect water pump replacement?

Time is the biggest factor. As we’ve said, they can be tricky to get to, so the labour costs can creep up with those problem replacements.

Another major consideration when you replace your water pump is your timing belt.

The water pump relies on the timing belt to ensure its optimum performance. A worn or loose timing belt can impact the water pump’s operation significantly, which, in some circumstances, can result in engine seizing. As you can imagine, replacing an engine is likely the most expensive and troublesome repair a driver can ever expect to suffer. That’s why when it’s time to change a water pump or the timing belt, they’re almost always carried out together.

You’ll also need to replace the coolant in your system and seal all the joints with the correct sealant.

What are the costs of water pump replacement parts?

Prices for new water pumps vary for each make and model of car. We looked at typical prices from Eurocarparts for replacement water pumps for a few popular vehicles.

In our search, we took an average for standard 2020 models.

Car Make	Car Model	Water Pump Prices
Ford	Fiesta	£49
Fiat	500	£35
Volkswagen	Golf	£73
Mercedes	C Class	£67
Audi	A4	£62
BMW	5 Series	£52
Volkswagen	Tiguan	£62
Audi	Q5	£104

What are the labour times and rates for car water pump replacement?

A simple swap on a vehicle with easy access to the pump should take around two hours. However, in trickier situations with harder to access or problematic pumps, it can take nearer four hours or even all day.

Water pump replacement costs vary across the country according to each garage and dealership. We took a look at our records to work out the average hourly rate to help keep you, our customers, informed and up to date.

We found for garages within the London area, the average rate came out at £78 per hour. For the garages throughout the rest of the country, the price was a little lower, as you’d expect, at £72 per hour.

Water Pump Replacement from £144

What are the labour times and rates for car water pump replacement?

How long does it take to replace a water pump in a car?

Where the water pump is relatively easy to access, a water pump replacement can take a couple of hours. However, where it isn’t so easy to get at, and where the timing belts or chains are a bit awkward or difficult to remove, then it could soon turn into half a day’s work—even a full day in the worst-case scenarios.

Can you drive a car with a bad water pump?

No. Please—do yourself a favour—if you think there’s a problem with your water pump, it’s leaking, or you can see there’s a problem with it or your timing/cam belt, then you’ll be risking the health of your engine if you risk driving.

What are the symptoms of a bad water pump?

Pools of coolant under the car—most likely under the engine.
Fluid leaking around the engine where the water pump is located or connects.
The car won’t start.
Engine temperature is higher than usual.
Engine temperature warning light is illuminated.
Steam or smoke is coming from the engine.
Whining, buzzing, squealing, or knocking sounds from the engine.

How often should you carry out a car water pump replacement?

There isn’t a set figure for this, as everything from car models to driving styles can affect the wear on motoring components, but our rule of thumb with water pumps is a replacement is recommended at around 100k miles of travel.

Some cars can achieve double that, and others could pack up after less than half the distance. Check your manufacture recommendations and have your mechanic give it the once over during each major service.

How long does a car water pump last?

With proper monitoring and maintenance (and a little luck!), your water pump can provide you with years of performance, but when it’s starting to show any signs of wear, you must replace it as soon as possible.

If you think your water pump is starting to demonstrate any such signs, or if there’s anything not quite right under the hood, why not let one of our experts take a look and identify the problem for you? We’re always ready and waiting to help.

Choose Fixter – Get an instant quote for your water pump replacement and save up to 30%

About Fixter

Fixter is revolutionising the car maintenance industry, one repair at a time. Fixter was founded to make car maintenance as easy as booking a taxi. Digital, transparent and stress-free, with world-class customer service. Since launching in Manchester in 2017, Fixter has expanded to more than 100 towns and cities across the UK and provided thousands of car owners with honest, convenient and affordable car repair services.