[size=13px]Hi All,[/size]

New to this forum and forums in general. Want to thank anyone who has ever contributed to forums like these as it has helped me understand what I am looking at a lot better. I only ever view other posts for help, this is my first time making my own post. I am not a car guy by any means but the way people spell things out in these forums really helps you make sense of things.

I currently have a 2006 Range Rover Sport HSE (4.4L V8 NA) that has 156,000 miles on it. I purchased it with 150,000 miles on it and have put quite a bit of service into it. Some notable recent services within the last year would be: new thermostat, new coolant reservoir tank, New water pump, New radiator. I mention these services because the current issue I am having is related to cooling the vehicle.

I had the water pump replaced at a previous shop - they also did the coolant reservoir tank once, and the thermostat once. After the water pump failed within a month and the vehicle overheated I decided to find a new shop before having them put in another. They claimed that the water pump, under warranty, failed due to other components and that I would have to pay full price for whatever repairs came with the next service, including a new water pump. Things just felt off to me so I decided to look around for some new shops.

I found a new shop that I felt was more upfront and honest and provided me with more detail which made me feel comfortable. I recently brought the vehicle in for an oil change as the last one was done at around 151,000. Before taking the vehicle in for the oil change I checked my coolant level the day before. It was slightly lower than expected so I topped it up. At the same time I noticed a faded white looking 'splash' all over the engine bay, specifically on the right/middle side of vehicle, between engine plastic cover and coolant reservoir especially. Picture attached.

I made a mental note to investigate further but dropped the vehicle off for the oil change. The mechanic told me that I would need a new water pump after I went to pick up the car for an oil change. Im not sure if this one will be under warranty still or not. He did not specify what he saw or why I would need a new water pump, but based on the white splashes under the hood on the engine bay and what ive seen online related to similar images/forum posts it looks like water pump is a good guess.

This is going to be my 3rd water pump since getting the vehicle, which feels insane. However, based on posts I have seen there are some other components that could be contributing to the wear and tear of the water pump that may be worth replacing. By replacing these you may also replace the endless water pump failing issue seems to be the takeaway. I was wondering if anyone could shine some light on the parts below, also pictured. Are the parts mentioned and plan a good approach to my issue? Or, would you not sink anymore money into it assuming it will continue to give me problems. Any and all feedback greatly appreciated!!!

Plan:

1. Replace water pump OEM
2. Replace thermostat OEM
3. Replace thermostat housing OEM
4. Replace bleeder t-valve Aftermarket (all metal replacement from falconworks - plastic OEM valve seems to cause problems for people and it is recommended to swap out.)
5. Replace serpentine belt OEM
6. Replace lower reservoir hose (if need be)
7. Coolant flush at start and coolant replace at end

Some side notes on the vehicle: A/C does not work and quote to get fully fixed was unreasonable. Known issues with fan shroud in vehicle being cracked but repaired. Would fan shroud issue or similar issues with A/C and related components cause more stress as well as wear and tear on water pump, radiator, and other cooling parts? Essentially, could my consistent water pump and cooling issues be stemming from bad parts related to A/C system (fans etc.)

If I buy the parts myself im looking at around $700 for the route I am going. Is my plan above too 'over the top' or excessive for just needing a water pump? Or is this proactive approach something that might fix things for good? Am I missing anything on my plan or list? Do I need to remove anything?

I plan to buy parts and go to independent shop for labor. I figured since water pump is needing to be replaced to do what I can while they are in there. Should I expect a hefty labor charge here for this kind of plan? I figured they could do all these services while doing water pump or alongside that job. But I'm not sure what to expect. I would love to not exceed $2000 including my parts fees. So, anything over that might start to feel a little uncomfortable due to my current financial situation.

I drive the vehicle MAYBE 4k miles a year. I dont put lots of miles on it because I work remote and also want to prolong the life of the vehicle. Insurance has become pretty cheap on it too which is nice. Are these repairs worth it to you, why or why not? My other thought was prepping a Facebook market post but that makes me sad too.

THANK YOU!!!!

-James