97 v70 2.5L 20 valve water pump issue

If the pump was marginal, then just having a tight new timing belt driving it could have been too much for it. Unless the car is very low mileage when the timing belt is replaced, it's a good idea to have the water pump changed as well. Not much consolation now, I know. It's not impossible that they could have done something to the pump, but again, unless it had few miles on it, it was probably just worn.

Not necessarily.

WHERE is the pump leaking?

If it is leaking from inside the pump itselt, then yeah, you need a new pump.

But that may not be what happened; the mechanic who reinstalled the old pump may not have properly sealed it, causing it to leak at the seal, and that would be HIS fault, not yours.

Maybe he didn't press upward on the pump correctly while tightening it; this would cause a leak as you describe at the top O-ring seal.

Or maybe the rear O-ring at the metal tube is crooked and not sealing correctly, causing coolant to leak at the rear, where the tube joins the body of the water pump.

Go out and LOOK closely at the pump, while the car is running and when it is off, and verify where it is leaking from.

If as I suspect it is from a seal, then the shop MUST repair it for free.

If you don't feel competent to examine it, as a friend who is, or take it to another shop for a second opinion.

I would hate for you to have to pay $500 to fix a problem which the shop caused, but this kind of stuff goes on all the time.

Oops, I was thinking of the pump on the 240 - 940 series, I am not familiar with your engine.

Maybe the same or similar design, not sure.

But yeah, make sure it isn't leaking where it hooks up to the engine / cylinder head.

Possibly so, or from the pump sitting dry for a period.

Tough luck I'm afraid..

Tim..

It's not overkill if the engine is the "interference" type - if a broken timing belt can destroy the engine. A water pump breaking can throw off or break the timing belt, so...