AutoZone water pump or OEM pump from dealer?

[Hollywood77]

I'm curious about this. I'm about to order 8 or 9 timing-belt-change related items from my local dealer.

I e-mailed the guy at the dealership (whom I always deal with) an Excel file with all my part numbers.

When he got back to me, it was with a price of $152.00 for a water pump.

That, to me, seemed to be a bit steep; so I called AutoZone.

AutoZone has one for $52.00.

I'm curious as to whether or not anybody has anything good/bad to say about using an AutoZone water pump?

That part would be my first AutoZone part, everything else has been Mitsu OEM from the dealer.

I guess, when I think about it, saving the $100 isn't my only concern. I'm concerned about using an AutoZone water pump. But if it's rock solid, then I'll go with it.

Sorry for rambling, and thanks for any help!

 

[bo0st]

I know you're running the GST and I got an RS, but if you check eBay you'll find better deals. I got a GMB water pump for $33 shipped. My mechanic installed it with no problems and it's been running for 2 years now. I heard GMB is the actual guys that make the Mitsubishi water pumps.

 

[gusu]

I am actually running that closed blade style from Gates.

From what I found they redesigned the pump for use on the 4g63 that Hyundai uses. Since Gates makes so many water pumps for multiple platforms it's cheaper and easier to make one design that works just fine on multiple platforms.

I haven't noticed any difference in temperature.

 

[ForsakenLash]

Sorry to kind of high jack this thread, but since we are speaking of GMB, I was thinking of ordering this:

95 99 Dodge Mitsubishi 2 0L DOHC Timing Belt GMB Water Pump Valve Cover Kit 420A | eBay


My main concern is the seals and gaskets. Also someone mentioned the GMB timing belts werent all that great... I really dont want to have to worry about it snapping and being in the same place I am now, are they trust worthy on a bone stock 420a?

 

[spyderdrifter]

Why would anyone want to buy a water pump from eBay? EBay may have cheap prices, but that only reflects the quality. For such an important part, you should spend the money for oem. Its worth the money in the long run...

 

[ForsakenLash]

Why would anyone want to buy a water pump from eBay? EBay may have cheap prices, but that only reflects the quality. For such an important part, you should spend the money for oem. Its worth the money in the long run...

Ive gotten parts off of ebay for other vehicles ive owned and they all worked great. I got ball joints and a caster camber kit for my mustang and the guy I sold it too is still running on them 4 years later.

The problem most people have with ebay is they dont read seller reviews or they buy from private sellers who pulled it at a junk yard and made it look pretty, and they get crap.

In this case of what im asking is almost all of the sellers reviews on the kit are good, some are neutral saying wrong parts were sent but company corrected and made it right. However someone said the GMB timing belts werent very good, so I want to know if I should order the kit, toss the belt, and grab one at Napa

 

[ninjadave]

It's going to be a little different per person. I work for advance auto an trust me getting the discounts and all are nice, but there are such items we sell that can be "defective" from the factory. But that's why we will replace for no charge just can't replace the blood and sweat

 

[mitsubishikid]

Thats why I brought it up. It didnt have "aisin" on it.

Well, I guess I will be selling it and I will be on the look out for an OEM one. Here are some additional pictures.

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The water pump in the image above is an auto zone water pump. so far I have had no issues running auto zone water pumps, I will admit some parts auto zone sells are trash, more or less, but so far I have 3 cars running AZ pumps and none have ever failed on me, and all have the lifetime guarantee.
and all you guys screaming get the oem aisin one, the dealer is charging way too much for it.
you know you can get the aisin water pump from rock auto, its currently like $46 bucks for a 6 bolt one p.s.h, and $80 bucks p.s.h for 2g aisin
oh and don't forget the 5% rockauto.com discount.

GMB Japan water pumps are also good units. I had a gmb on my colt vista it was on there for 7 years, had no issues, I eventually swapped it over to an AZ unit and its been on there for about 8 years now so far no issues.
mind you the gasket surface was cleaned properly, and the o ring was brand new on all these units no sealer was used.