Cam belt /Water pump change

I have a 1998 V70 which I arranged to have serviced at a Volvo garage, including a new cam belt change just before going on my hols. The car has done 155K. I asked for the water pump to be changed at the same time, but was talked out of it by the garage, as they said the never fail! Guess what hapopens whilst in France? The water pump failed resulting in bent valves. I ended up having to pay for a repair which came to almost the value of the car! My question is, do the servicing schedules recommend the replacement of the water pump at the same time as the cam belt? I could do with knowing before I pay a visit to the garage. Many thanks

Many thanks for the prompt response. Yes I have had the repairs carried out, I had to get it done in France, but I have obtained the broken parts which were replaced.

I have never really understood why the waterpump failing should have such a catastrophic effect, the pump is unlikely to seize as it has journal bearings or has your pump seized? I would suspect they have made a botch of the tensioning or you have been very unlucky with a flawed belt or tensioner. Either way they should be prepared to accept liability since the work has just recently been completed. It will be interesting to see what they're response is. Hope you get full compensation - Good Luck.

Went to the dealers today, and spent a good while negotiating with them. They still maintain they do not recommend a change with the water pump at the same time as a cam belt, as they rarely have any problems with them. However, we eventually agreed what amounts to a credit note for half the cost of my repairs. I accepted the offer rather than run the risk of getting nothing from them. Can I recommend to others, for the relatively minimal cost of a water pump, that you change it at the same time as doing a cam belt change!!!

I've never heard of a water pump lasting 240k miles i.e. the Tdi belt change interval, as you'll know, is 80k. Would you happily leave the original w/pump in place at the 160k change, confident that it would last another 80k? I wouldn't. Regards.

This site, Telegraph Motoring, recommends the V70 tdi water pump change interval to be every ................. 60 thou

This site recommends a change of water pump at 140K for your '98 model