A broken timing belt can wipe out the motor but they last longer than they used to last. I’ve only replaced one and it had broken. I drive my cars over 150k miles.
A timing belt is $400 usually. Water pumps make noise before they go. They can also kill an engine but you’ll get a warning first. When you see the temps go up, it’s time. Check coolant levels frequently.
Water pumps are pretty easy to replace. Youtube can show you.
I used instructions from ALLPAR to replace the timing belt and water pump on mymid-90’s lebaron witha Mitsubishi V6. It was actually easier than I expected, thanks to the amazing instructions. I paid 900 to get them both replaced at about 95k and I had to take it back. It ran “odd” and the check engine light came on. They had put the belt on one of the cam shafts off by one tooth. ;-)
Anyway, it’s pushing 180k. Interestingly, it doesn’t lose any water, but when you part it, the coolant reservour gurgles a lot. I have no clue what that means.
It may be that someone is going to get a good deal on this car when I dump it.