waterpump pricing question

I would always go with the better quality pump. Engine cooling is just too important to gamble with, and the price for labor involved offsets any $$ difference. That said, it doesn't mean that aftermarket pumps are necessarily of lesser quality. (I have used aftermarket pumps with no issues.) Just don't get one made in China. (There have been many reports of failure with Chinese pumps.) If you can't establish where the cheaper pump is made, and someone to vouch for its quality, I would go with the OEM product.

Best regards,

thanks - i will try and find out who makes the IAP one.

lgbalfa said:

thanks - i will try and find out who makes the IAP one.

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i`ve got Friday my water pump from IAP
http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=2469&posid=852349
and it is "made in italy" just like the old one...

is there any difference between centerline's and IAP's water pumps?

also - how long typically does a water pump last?

my car is 15 years old with about 13k miles and it is leaking.

lgbalfa said:

is there any difference between centerline's and IAP's water pumps?

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lgbalfa said:

also - how long typically does a water pump last?

my car is 15 years old with about 13k miles and it is leaking.

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The water pumps last for years, and many, many miles. One of my Spiders went to it's third pump when it hit 180k mi. (I don't have that car any more.) For how often you should inspect it for wear, I would recommend that you look at your Owners Manual recommended maintenance schedule. (I'm always looking at the engine bay, but that's 'cause that's just me...)

I don't think that the IAP and Centerline suppliers are the same. The last pump that I had installed this past summer was not OEM - it was sourced by one of the shops that I use (from one of their local suppliers), and they only install good components. It was in Cincinnati and the cost was less than $100.

Best regards,

Just another thought - Alfa products may come form Germany, Italy, China and Brazil. Of all of those, the only one that I have heard bad reports about are for the Chinese products. It seems like with them, it's "hit or miss"... Centerline, and IAP stopped selling some of their inexpensive products (including water pumps) due to the high failure rate. I also used to be a bit leary of the Brazilian products, but I was there in late 2005, and came back with a different perspective... In fact, this last pump may be Brazilian...

Best regards,

Zunige said:

Just another thought - Alfa products may come form Germany, Italy, China and Brazil. Of all of those, the only one that I have heard bad reports about are for the Chinese products. It seems like with them, it's "hit or miss"... Centerline, and IAP stopped selling some of their inexpensive products (including water pumps) due to the high failure rate. I also used to be a bit leary of the Brazilian products, but I was there in late 2005, and came back with a different perspective... In fact, this last pump may be Brazilian...

Best regards,

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thank you so much for the advice - as always, you have been very helpful.

ordered the IAP water pump today.