I need a price check to help me decide if I should do the work myself or have the independent Jaguar mechanic do the work.
New factory water pump and serpentine belt replacement.
Quote from the mechanic is "approximately $740.00".
They only use factory pumps because they say that they haven't had good luck with aftermarket pumps.
Is this a good price?
Also, I see pumps with metal impellers and pumps with resin, like the factory pump. I've heard that the metal pumps aren't recommended for this engine because of cavitation. I won't pretend to know what that means for my car.

 

It's a pretty straightforward job, but I've attached the JTIS procedure so you can decide if you want to do it yourself.

Even if you were to use the pump from Jaguar AJ88912 (which I understand is Airtex), it and the belt only tot up to about $200.
You may need some top-up coolant either way.

I used an AC Delco 252-800, which has metal blades, although I'd probably go with the Airtex if/when It needs replacing again.

$740 sounds a bit top-heavy.

Spin the idler and tensioner pulleys while you have the belt off to check the bearings aren't grumbling.

 

The best price that I have found online in the US is $265 for the factory water pump. Belt is $48.
I figure if I am doing the work, while I am in there, I should replace the thermostat, top hose and lower hose.
My mechanic did pressure test the cooling system and said that the thermostat was good and that it is the pump that is leaking onto the belt. Maybe I should just leave the thermostat alone. I know that I need the upper hose, because the hose is a bit squishy. Will I lose much more coolant if I choose to replace the top radiator hose along with the pump? What do you think?

 

One more question: Do you have to use new bolts to mount the pulley on the water pump? The JTIS procedure that is posted above says to discard the water pump pulley retaining bolts and use new bolts to reinstall.

 

Mmm. I was a bit low at $200, but it seems that you pay a hefty uplift on some of the OEM stuff over there. The pump price I took from Jaguar Heritage is $197.46 at today's rate.

RockAuto has a few choices:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ter+pump,2208?

Thermostat & hoses I would replace if they've not been done in the last 3 or 4 years. Beware the lower hose connection to the rad if you do elect to change it:- see Stamford's thread:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...1/#post2241562

I guess the party line is "yes you should". However, I reused the old ones, ignoring the +x° part of the torque spec for both those and the WP bolts. I re-checked after a week or so and have had no issues since.

 

book is 1 hour but a good service writer should squeeze 1.5 out. i can get these out the door in 30 minutes

factory pump is like 350-400 by the time it goes through wholesale parts

 

Hi Todd,

To my knowledge, the "Factory Pump" is no longer available, at least in the U.S. Here, the pump you will get in the Jaguar box from the dealership is the Airtex AW4124, which Rock Auto sells for less than USD $50.00 plus tax and shipping.

Another option that xalty prefers is the Ford Motorcraft PW448. Rock Auto also carries that one for closer to $100.00. The gasket is similar to the original one, metal with rubber inserts. If you don't see this pump listed for your Jaguar model, check the listings for the 2004 Ford Thunderbird or Lincoln LS with the 3.9L engine.

I have not had any trouble re-using the water pump or pulley screws and torquing them per the manual, but you should definitely clean the threads of the screws before you reinstall them. It's also a good idea run a tap into the holes in the engine to clean out any corrosion that may interfere with proper torquing.

Replacing the pump is not difficult at all. You should have an inch-pound range torque wrench. You can eyeball the 90-degree additional twist (1/4 turn). The pulley screws are much easier to torque once you have reinstalled the belt.

You will lose some coolant in the process, and you won't want to re-use what spills out because it will run down the dirty front of the engine.

Cheers,

Don

 

I did mine recently $30 for the pump and $20 for the belt .$10 for the thermostat..the prices you Americans pay is just madness..sounds to me like the guy thinks he has got to take all the radiator out to get at it .....

 

For your 2004 XK8, you can buy a brand name (though not Jaguar OEM) water pump, thermostat and serpentine belt for under $100 - likely including shipping - from Rock Auto. That includes a pump with a metal impeller if you want to dig deep and spend all of $51.

Most any mechanic who calls him or herself a mechanic should be able to install all three items in an hour, 90 minutes tops.
I'd say that if you spend more than $350 at any shop, including an independent Jaguar specialist, you've spent too much. That assumes the shop marks up the parts and charges $150 an hour for labor.

Or you can do it yourself. Make sure to install the thermostat in the right direction and go easy on the bolts. You might find a quarter inch drive, tastefully twisted, is easier to manage than a torque wrench on the delicate fasteners.