Any luck with autozone 240d water pump?

[biopete]

I have to replace the waterpump on a friends 1983 240d. She don't want to put a whole lot of money in it so I got a pump from autozone for 40.00 and a lifetime warranty to save her 100.00 and not have to wait on a part to be shipped. I've had pretty good luck with those in the past on other cars. This one feels solid.

Anyone have any luck with az pumps on these or bad stories? If it blows quick I figure I won't charge her again for labor as it's not a huge job.

Will a pump from a 1985 300sd be the same pump? I have a parts car, I could use that too.

[ah-kay]

You should buy parts from this Site . Just cross check the part # between the 240D and the 1985 300SD. I would expect it to be compatible.

[Diesel911]

I have used Autozone Water Pumps on other Vehicles with no early failure issues. It is hard to say if that transistions over to Mercedes.

I think there is also Driver issues when it comes to overheating a Car. Some Drivers don't feel they are only responsible for turning the Car on and driving it in a resonably safe manner. They don't take any responsibility for looking at gauges and listening and smelling what is going on with their Cars and drive them to death when there is a problem. A life time warranty is of no good to those types.
With the above type of person you are better off getting the best parts avaliable.

The above described situation is a sore spot with Me as My Wife continued to drive My Van and did not know She overheated it due to never looking at Gauges and thinking the Coolant Smell was Gasoline; overheating caused by a small Water Pump leak. She also never told Me the Engine was knocking. I did not find out till I drove it Myself.

And, yes it spun a Rod Bearing and ruined the Crankshaft. I have not overhauled an Engine for 23 Years and am extremely unhappy to have to do it now.

Back on subject. The assumption is that the higher quality Water Pump is going to last longer and not give someone the chance of destroying their Engine for a longer period of time then the cheapie one. So you need to ask the Car Owner what they want.

[MagicBus]

How urgent is this? Can you wait for a part to be shipped?

It's worth noting that this very site sells a GRAF brand water pump for the '83 240D for $41.75 plus shipping - very comparable to the Autozone pump pricing:

1983 Mercedes-Benz 240D Base Sedan - Water Pump, Thermostat & Hoses - Page 1

I've only used one GRAF water pump before - it was on my 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon. I installed it in 2003 and it performed flawlessly until the bottom end of the original engine gave up on me in 2011 (for unrelated reasons).

Based on that experience, I'd buy a GRAF pump for my '83 240D. YMMV

[Zacharias]

Originally Posted by biopete

Anyone have any luck with az pumps on these or bad stories? If it blows quick I figure I won't charge her again for labor as it's not a huge job.

Ask them who makes the pumps for them.

The guide I was told was to look at the impeller blades. Plastic/nylon = junk. Stamped metal = mediocre. Cast metal = best.

As an aside, I was also taught that regardless of brand, if the thing has been sitting for 8 years in a warehouse the seals will be dried out, so to think twice before snapping up 'deals' on old stock being cleared out. I understand not everyone agrees with that point of view.

When I was shopping for mine I found that it was pretty easy to cross-reference the brands by looking at the pics online. I found something like five brands were the same pump (distinctive pressing in the pump body), don't recall all the brands exactly but I think ACDelco, Dorman, APA/URO, Trucktec as examples were all the same unit.

[biopete]

Thanks. Good tips. I need to put out on tomorrow. Just picked up the car yesterday. So no time. I buy a ton of parts from pelican. I always try there first. They actually get here faster than anyone even though they come out of Cali. I really like them.

Looks like the same pump for a 617. The AutoZone one seems pretty heavy. This customer watches her gauges and noticed the stream from a weeping pump. Caught it and topped up coolant and it never overheated.

[Marshall Welch]

I think it's wise of you to inquire about brands. As mentioned above, Graf is said to be a good brand. Laso, and Genuine Mercedes are the only other brands that I would trust, based on largely on my reading in this and other forums, and talking to my trusted local independent parts supplier. I used a Laso replacement in my car about 5 years ago, and it's been fine. It has a cast iron impeller.

The other brands mentioned above may very well be fine, also, but my knowledge about them is very limited.

[DeliveryValve]

I resorted to an AutoZone pump because I needed it quickly about 8 years and about 60,000 miles ago. It is a solid, cast impeller pump. Don't know who made it, but it still works!

.

[t walgamuth]

some pumps have bent metal vanes instead of a solid cast wheel. I'd want the latter.

[barry12345]

I preffer a new water pump over a rebuilt pump. Simply because the impellor shaft will always be new basically for the seal to engage.. And the bearing it rides on. Unless there is a real signifigant differance in price.

[ROLLGUY]

I too have used water pumps from the Zone, and have had no problems. I have also used pumps from our sponsor with no problems either. I probably have replaced half a dozen or more since I have been working on these cars, and have not had to revisit any of them. Of course only time will tell.....Rich