should i push the original water pump past 100,000 miles? I vaguely remember the service writer telling me it's a $600 job, and Honda recommends replacement at 100,000 miles.

 

No reason to replace it unless there is a problem with it. Is that listed in the manual? Don’t think it’s a service/maintenance item.

its usually replaced with a timing belt job on belt motors but the Fit has a chain.

 

You're fine to keep going. I'm fairly sure the service interview recommends 150k service but there's more than a few here who've gone over 200k miles before their water pump service. Case in point this guy went over 400k's on his no problem.

You aren't hurting anything by changing it early. It's your car, do as you please but this engine is so over-engineered it's just not necessary.

I replaced the coolant and thermostat on mine after 10 years and 81k miles a month ago. The thermostat that came out looked brand new. Compared to my brother's PT cruiser which has 115k and been through two thermostats.

 

Thanks for the replies! To GolNat... there is not a single word about the water pump in the owner's manual. Red 05, thanks for the insight. 400K on the original water pump is certainly confidence building! When one googles the subject, there's really not a lot of info out there. General recommendations for replacing water pumps (on any make/model) are broad-brushed and limited.

 

200K on mine with the original pump. Always good when there are no results after googling a possible problem.

 

Yeah, no need to replace the water pump.
I replace the thermostat at about 8th year mark.
Coolant is changed every 2-3 yrs for me.

 

A water pump will 'tell' you when it needs changed. Even if it starts to make noise and leaks, you still have some time to change it out. Keep going.

 

Thanks again for the replies. I've found a bit of information which clarifies my original post.
I was looking at the maintenance schedule my local dealer (Open Road Honda, Edison, NJ) puts out.
At 110,000 miles it has "replace timing belt, replace water pump." and "replace engine drive belts."

So I'm wondering if that is something the local dealer dreamed up, or is it genuinely recommended by Honda.

 

110,000 miles is normal for those items with a timing belt engine. Fit has a chain so it does not apply.

 

Take a look on the forum for water pump failure posts here; I don't recall much.

You do, however, need to address spark plug and valve timing.

Not a bad time to drain and replace fluids if they haven't been addressed recently IMO (e.g. brake fluid, engine coolant, transmission fluid). 100k miles is a good time to get a good mechanic to check over all components on a lift (e.g. brakes, suspension, steering, tyres, etal.).

 

spin out:
You have to educate yourself a little more about your car. You haven't said what year / configuration you own but if it's a Gen II, you have a chain timing belt connecting the crankshaft to the camshaft, not a belt. The term, "engine drive belt" is a mystery to me. Maybe someone knows what that means but I don't think that there is such a thing.

Personal experience has taught me that the dealer's tech reps don't always know what they're talking about even if their computer system says x, y, and z needs done.

Get a service manual or ask your questions here and we'll try to help.

 

Engine drive belts as I know them are the accessory belts or serpentine belt(s).

 

thanks for chiming in. good points. i have a 2009 Sport. To be clear, the vehicle maintenance schedule they hand out at my local dealer is good for the "2001 & newer Civic and 2007 & newer Fit." To your point that the "tech reps don't always know what they're talking about," I was once approached by the service writer while waiting for service on the car, and he told me my "power steering fluid should be replaced because it was somewhat discolored." I told him I had heard the vehicle had electronic steering. He came back to me 5 minutes later and said, "never mind. The technician made a mistake."