I have finally found a fiat Grande Punto 07 that I want to buy. Comes with service history, 12 months mot etc. It has had a new cambelt which is not an issue but a new water pump. Not wishing to get stung again by a car dealer is the new water pump a sign of previous problems ? Would you steer clear of this car ?

No it's driven by the cam belt so it's better if it's done then

more cars than dinners said:

I have finally found a fiat Grande Punto 07 that I want to buy. Comes with service history, 12 months mot etc. It has had a new cambelt which is not an issue but a new water pump. Not wishing to get stung again by a car dealer is the new water pump a sign of previous problems ? Would you steer clear of this car ?

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Every car I've ever owned when the cambelt was due I've also had the water pump done. So if it was done at the same time as the cambelt then I'd consider this normal practice.

Steer away, no - entirely the opposite.

As others allude to, waterpump is cambelt driven, so if it fails you're going to have to do the whole job over again anyway. Water pumps are usually not that much money in themselves so it's one of those things thats better to be done whilst you're down there.

If you're after a car and it's reached the point in it's life where the cambelt requires changing you ideally want to see that the water pump has been done with it, as it suggests a "no expense spared" approach and not cutting corners to save costs.

Changing waterpump at cambelt time is definitely best practice and you shouldn't read anything mechanical issue wise into this having been done.