the timing belt and water pump on my Stilo 1.4 were changed 6 months ago. Now I hear the the sound of rumbling bearings coming from where the water pump sits.
Is such a short life commonplace? Is it just bad luck with a defective pump? Should I make sure the next one is a a particular make?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Six months isn't very much, assuming you've only travelled around 7,000 miles in that time, so that looks unlucky.

Did you over-tension the cam-belt? That usually affects the water pump the most.

These days (following a water pump failure that threw the cam-belt on my Alfa 145) I'd look for an OE Fiat one, or one from a manufacturer you have at least heard from, such as Febi (Bilstein), Valeo, or SKF.

Firstline also seem to make pumps for Stilo's and their stuff is usually okay (they own/tied up with Borg & Beck) and could even be UK-manufactured.

Just don't buy the £15 pumps without any name on the box. I tried that.. and I'm still fixing it.


Ralf S.

Problem solved. Noise was from a defective timing belt tensioner. As this was only 6 months old it is a poor show. The tensioner was part of an SKF belt kit.