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Water Pump - 11 Hours and $2000?

Water Pump Replacement

My Diesel T31 is currently at our local dealer for a 160,000km service. I opted out of any of the extra services and charges. I just had a phone call to say it's almost ready but the water pump is leaking, and it's an 11 hour engine out job to replace it which will run me upwards of $2000. Why manufacturers design engines so poorly is beyond me, I remember changing a water pump in a VR V6 Commodore in 20 minutes. Anyway, this is just a bit of a rant to vent my outrage, and a question regarding should I take it to a non Nissan mechanic who will probably be half the hourly rate of Nissan? Should I have the timing belt changed at the same time as is common practice with some other cars to do these things as a pigeon pair? 11 hours for a water pump change...

Re: Water Pump

Yep, the dealer is correct in saying it's a big job and the service manual shows that the only way to get the water pump out is to remove the engine block I guess that's how Nissan make their money by making a simple maintenance task so difficult. No need to worry about timing belts mate, you don't have any. All X-Trails have a timing chain instead and it doesn't need to be replaced.

Re: Water Pump

Looking at the diagram I would say the only reason to need engine removal is if there is not enough room between the engine and a body part inside the engine compartment to pull the water pump out of its housing. Maybe look at this clearance yourself and ask to measure the length of a new water pump to see if there is room and then see another mechanic to ask his views.

Re: Water Pump

First thing I would think of trying is to undo the lower wishbone ball joints , undo the engine and gearbox mountings and see if the engine/gearbox assembly will move away from the inner wing enough to take it out.

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"No need to worry about timing belts mate, you don't have any. All X-Trails have a timing chain instead and it doesn't need to be replaced." Even the M9R diesel?

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Yep, even the diesel. That's why I said "All X-Trails"

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Turns out they were talking about the serpentine belt which they replaced at the same time.

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Yeah, that one is definitely a BELT, not a chain