I had recently started to hear a bit of water movement under the hood for the past week. Suddenly this evening it has turned into a loud clanking, sounds as if there is a loose wrench flying around under my hood. I called my mechanic who thinks the water pump is letting go. He works at a landrover dealership and wants to fix the water pump and front timing belt for 600$. I have no leverage as its clear something is wrong, but I am by no means a wrench. Any advice? suggestions? should i be looking to buy the parts on my own?

 

600 (parts and labor), that's including a new pump? That's not too bad I guess.

Are you leaking coolant anywhere from the pump gasket/weep hole (once the pump starts going bad water will begin to make its way to the dry side and ooze from the hole)?

Not sure why it would cause the sound your describing, even if the pump is failing. Would be more of a squeaking sound, like a high pitched belt wine/pulley sound?

And of course you would overheat fast and hard because your coolent would never get pumped and cooled via the radiator. Are you overheating at all?

Is your fan blade hitting anything causing that sound maybe? With that sort sound you should be able to "see" the problem I would think?

Pop the hood and take a look.