My faithful 1.3 Felicia estate was delivered to first owner on 19th January 98. So when was it manufactured? Time to change the timing chain and water pump, but the chain is listed as different for before and after 11/97!(Should I replace the water pump?)

Thanks. Dominic..

Chain is the same, its the inside diameter of the crank sprocket that changes. Take your bottom pulley off the crank and measure the I d and then you will know... is there anything wrong with the water pump?

Edited 5 April, 201214 yr by djaychela

Thank you djaychela,

The old boy is our only transport! So we didn't want to take him apart until we had new parts.

Being in France adds to our problem. Perhaps Jorily might send us two sprockets and we return one?

90,000 miles, I thought we should do the pump as precaution however beginning to think I have enough to be getting on with...

From my experience with these cars, if the engine cooling water has always been according to manufacturer recommendations (Water plus coolant or anti freeze), the water pump will run even more than 90,000 miles. I own 2 felicias, in the 97 one i have always renewed the engine water every two years with a mixture of 50% distilled water and 50% G11 HEPU engine coolant. The car has covered 257000 Kms and the original pump is still pushing water very well.

If you notice water dripping from the water pump at idle that means you need to replace it. And if you do change it, do not over-tight the pump-alternator belt because it will affect the pump.

In my other felicia, a 99 new face one, the previous owner was careless and cooling water was always brownish with brown dirt and sludge inside the cooling circuit parts and engine block and i had to change the water pump at 180000 Kms because the engine was losing water from the water pump whenever it is not running.

Another thing, you do not have to remove the water pump if you need to change the timing chain.

Thank you djaychela,

The old boy is our only transport! So we didn't want to take him apart until we had new parts.

Being in France adds to our problem. Perhaps Jorily might send us two sprockets and we return one?

It's nothing major to dismantle - you have one bolt to undo (the crankshaft one which holds the bottom pulley in place) and if you have suitable calipers you would be able to make the measurement without even removing the bottom pulley (as the pulley inside diameter will be the same as that of the crank sprocket), but removing it only involves removing the alternator belt which is a 5 minute job. Of course you could probably buy both from Jorily and then return the one you don't use, but then there would be postage cost involved which could make it expensive to do so.

raedalbandak,

Thank you, We won't do the water pump just yet. Very reassuaring that you have had 250,000 kms from a relatively inexpensive car.

Thank you djaychela, Excellent. I shall give Jorily the measurement after Easter. Cheers.