two failed "lifetime" water pumps from Advance Auto Parts

Would not at all be surprising if it is. I would even say a 50% chance these days. Really a shame trying to buy QUALITY anything as of late.
100% chance anything AC Delco is white box. If you want the real deal it's gotta be GM Genuine, but even then don't kid yourself: no one is making an OEM level water pump for a 1999. It might be the "best" level when Chinese manufacturers present a tiered price sheet and ask if you want Meh, Good, Better, or Best....but the original tooling, factory and processes from 1999 are long gone
 
I had some issues with my daily driver this weekend, and with the holiday and sort of mild weather decided to tackle a front wheel bearing. My first choice was OEM, but couldn't get one immediately. So I sourced a NAPA branded bearing (their highest priced and best quality unit) and installed it. I was pleasantly surprised that they had a significant discount for AAA members, but I'm not super happy about using a box store bearing unit.

During the assembly I found a bad tie rod end as well. I was able to source this from the dealer, so that wasn't bad. Took me all day on Saturday to collect parts and begin disassembly and all day Sunday to repair. After my home alignment the truck drives like new. Should be. I'm into it for about $1000 in parts and a few tools I needed.

I have to mention that other than immediate availability, I've been very fortunate to be able to source most parts I need from my dealers. In fact, I've never been told thing are discontinued entirely and I've bought some odd-ball stuff for older trucks. And I echo the other posters in the fact that the dealer prices are usually very competitive with local part stores. The only source that beat them is Rock Auto, but the likely hood of getting a part that doesn't fit is very high.
 
I'm presently staring at a Murray CP7160 installed on a Dodge Magnum 4/24. About 10k miles and it's leaking pretty good from the weep hole. These were common once upon a time: 318, 360 and the 3.9 V6 IIRC. That covers Dakotas, Rams, Ram Vans, and other stuff like ZJs that got the optional 318.

Really disappointing -- we know from results it's possible to build a wp that lasts MUCH longer than this
 
When it does come to warrantying a part at the auto parts store, it’s usually fairly hassle free. On the other hand, I’ve heard of dealers telling customers that they have to pay for diagnostic at the service department and if they determine the part is bad under warranty they’ll replace the part for free but the customer will still have to pay labor. Sure, I get it, because so many people do rip off companies, but why pay $200 in diag fee when you’re trying to warranty a $40 sensor?
It's an OEM policy - unless you're the dealer, in order to warranty something, you generally need to have the dealer diagnose it.

When I buy a part from the dealer I'm buying for quality, but I'm also knowingly taking a risk of essentially having no warranty.
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure what "lifetime" that they're referring to....

Pump #1 - lasted 2 years, 11 months and 22,000 miles.
Pump #2 - lasted 5 years, 10 months and 45,000 miles.

First one started leaking. Replaced. It had been bolted to three different Jasper engines, LOL.

Second one just started randomly dripping coolant several months ago...only 1-3 drips at a time... and only occasionally. It would go days without dripping. Checked all of the clamps and connections multiple times.

Finally, last week... when the truck was idling inside the garage, I started hearing the noise of a bearing grinding itself. Called the mechanic, made an appointment. Parked it and started driving the Sierra instead. While I was driving it to the mechanic's shop, it got to the point where it was *really* unhappy. Could hear the grinding noise from inside the cab at stop lights, and it would get louder as I accelerated away. Mechanic laughed at how bad the bearing was, it was after he took it off and spun it by hand.

It has been replaced, yet again, but not with junk from AAP. Done with them. We'll see if O'Reilly's "lifetime" Murray brand water pumps are any better. (hahaha...probably not).
The O'Rielly unit is worse. You will be replacing it again I am sorry to tell you. I completely stopped using O'reilly's for anything in my shop 3yrs ago. High warranty on their batteries, water pumps, alternators, brakes etc. Maybe they have improved since then but I have been happy with Autozone parts for the most part. They still have issues at times but way less and they back their parts up better in my experience.
 
I doubt you're the only one, been replacing my LS1 AZ pump prophetically every 20-30K. I point to the COO if the parts guy asks questions. Fortunately it is an easy job, and I get a coolant flush and service the bolts (they are not cheap) in the process. I don't want to get stranded, but I suspect they are getting a bit better and I might push it just over 30K mark net time.

I'm still on my first Jasper though!
 
  • Wow
Reactions: D60
I just put a lifetime fuel pump in my Sierra and I might live to regret it. But I didn't see a GM OE pump available, so I got the Delphi, which has been a long time GM supplier.

Getting decent parts for a 22 year old truck is getting harder all the time.
VERY true. Its FAR worse for a 33 year truck! (My 93 Silverado)
 
My motto: the installation of aftermarket cooling system parts is strictly verboten.
 
If it's a difficult install I use OEM. If it's easy and OEM is $$$ I may roll the dice on something cheaper. May....


Paco
 
  • Like
Reactions: D60
The warranty is there for a reason. If nothing ever broke you wouldn't need the warranty, right? But also if nothing ever broke the parts store wouldn't exist anyway. So... buy the best part you can afford and/or is available, do the best possible job installing it you can, and if you need to warranty it, well, you paid for that warranty. Unfortunately you're also paying the cost of idiots and scammers because that's baked into the price of everything but that's a different discussion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: D60
The warranty is there for a reason. If nothing ever broke you wouldn't need the warranty, right? But also if nothing ever broke the parts store wouldn't exist anyway. So... buy the best part you can afford and/or is available, do the best possible job installing it you can, and if you need to warranty it, well, you paid for that warranty. Unfortunately you're also paying the cost of idiots and scammers because that's baked into the price of everything but that's a different discussion.
Lots of scammers now, even if it's a small thing. Sometimes when I return my core, the replacement pump does not include the gaskets and I have to re-use my old ones. The ones that are not metal are not worth the trouble.
 
  • Like
Reactions: D60
Lots of scammers now, even if it's a small thing. Sometimes when I return my core, the replacement pump does not include the gaskets and I have to re-use my old ones. The ones that are not metal are not worth the trouble.
I'd be fine with shorter warranties if prices would drop, too. Ultimately what they'll do is reduce warranty coverage and keep prices the same -- basically "shrinkflation" in a different form.

Already lots of products that used to be LT warranty are one year. That said, I think a year is a reasonable warranty period for most parts.
 
Back
Top Bottom