Water Pump - Plastic Impellor

[bg158a]

Hi,

I was going to change the water pump when I change the timing belt this weekend. I have read about pottential failures of the plastic impellor but I can't find a genuine metal impellar pump.

VW only list the plastic impellor metal impellor is now obsolete.
GSF are getting plastic impellor pumps in tomorow and have, metal impellors on back order with no expected delivery date.
Euro car parts list a metal impellor pump.

I would have liked a Genuine water pump is the metal impellor better than a genuine VW pump.

Anybody got any other ideas where else I could look.

Cheers Ben.

[cazyp]

I just replace mine each time i do a cambelt with what ever is in the box - usually the vag plastic type. It's not at all likely to fail in the 60'000 interval. I have never removed one at 60'000 that looked ready to fail.

I think the problems occur when they are not changed at each cambelt service TBH, although I done one on a mates TDI the otherday @ 178'000 which had the original in. There was play in the shaft but it was all intact.

[martin1810]

It doesn't matter what the impeller is made of. The problem was that it came loose on the shaft so didn't turn. This was a manufacturing fault that can happen whether it is made of plastic or metal.

[snapdragon]

This didn't just affect VAG cars, it was a late 1990s, early 2000s problem as far as I can see where a sort of fibre reinforced plastic was used that seemed to be affected by the coolant over time and become weak. It would usually shear at the weakest part near the shaft, as so the impeller would not spin and would just jump around with bits chipping off. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't make them out of plastic as long as it is at least adequate for the job. If I bought a new VW pump and it was plastic I would be ok with that, as the manufacturers who make the pumps must have got a besmirching by the car makers and will have undoubtedly done a few more years' worth of material (and coolant formulation) research.

[passing]

i had a polo impller fail at 18k miles and light use so mleage is no guide. It was probably faulty from thefactory but VW would not pay towards it at all

[zollaf]

just out of interest, how old was the polo when the pump failed?

[passing]

less than 4 years - I tried to get a goodwill payment from VW even though the warranty had expired
2000MY

[ChillOut]

less than 4 years - I tried to get a goodwill payment from VW even though the warranty had expired
2000MY

Good Will and VW go together like peaches and concrete. Easier getting a free drink out of a Vogon. £400 for a service, £200 at an independent, you think they would like to keep your custom.