Water pump failure

**mickel2** · 31-07-2009,04:07 PM

Hi all, i have a 2001 Passat tdi sports estate, i bought the car privately 3 years ago when the vehicle had done 87,526 miles. It had the service history as it was an ex reps car. At 60,000 the cambelt was changed by VW garage.
At 103,000 the water pump failed without warning as i pulled away from the traffic lights, being a mechanic i regularly check fluid levels and no sign of coolant loss. It was stripped down by a pro engine rebuilder and the pump itself had fallen to bits. This bent all the valves, camfollowers, hydraulic lifters, crankshaft pulley ( damaged by the bearings falling out and going round with the cambelt) The local Scoda was VW agent says the pumps are good for 150,000 plus miles. Would i have any claim against VW, my man is keeping all the parts removed. Mike

**angus** · 31-07-2009,04:45 PM

Unfortunately I can`t see how you`d have a claim after 103,000 miles based on the say-so of a Skoda agent.

I was under the impression that any garage worth their salt changed the water pump and pulleys when stripping down to replace the cambelt a)because of the work involved and b) the water pumps had a tendancy to self destruct when the got older.

Had the pump been changed at 60k?

Whatever, I can`t see any point in keeping the bits.

**mickel2** · 31-07-2009,05:26 PM

I've been intouch with the nearest big VW service centre and asked do they change the waterpump when doing a cambelt and they said no, it was not a VW policy to do so,they inspect it and act accordingly. I said it should be manditory for the sake of approx £75 it would save the customer from £2000+ for a repair, and they would have to fit a new belt as well! I'm disgusted at the attitude.
mike.

**jimbo73** · 31-07-2009,06:26 PM

My 2001 reg passat water pump went at around 70,000 miles. I had just had my cam belt done by a mechanic I know who is a VW mechanic, unfortunately he never done the water pump. 10k miles more when the water pump went, he said should of done this when we done the cambelt... Ggrrrr.... Not his fault though as he knew I was skint at the time..And couldnt afforded any more even if I wanted to.

So they will not last no where near 150k, and I had the same problem.

**mickel2** · 31-07-2009,06:51 PM

Hi Jimbo, what damage did the pump do to your engine?, Mike

**ddave05** · 31-07-2009,07:45 PM

There are different circumstances for different engines with regards to the water pump. I had my cambelt done at 61k and I had a look at the water pump myself and it was like new. There was no play between the cog and the shaft at all and the mechanic himself told me it could have lasted another 60k at least (not that i was willing to take the risk

). For such a relatively low priced item, it worth changing - even if you buy an non VW part for a cheaper price.

**jimbo73** · 31-07-2009,08:24 PM

Luckily it didnt cause any problems to the engine, although it did nealry rip the almost new cambelt, and if it would of, it would of caused a lot of damage.

As soon as it happened which was just after a short motorway run, I stopped and turned the engine off straight away, when it said stop. and the car was then towed away to my mates.

**mickel2** · 31-07-2009,08:30 PM

Mine, there was no warning nothing!!! no temp rise on the guage just a violent bang and stopped dead! i was sitting at traffic lights just starting to accelerate away.

**Zub** · 01-08-2009,11:23 PM

I got my water pump replaced with the belts at 120,000 and i'm pretty sure it was the original one.

**mickel2** · 02-08-2009,07:52 AM

Hi Zub, was yours a plastic impeller type or bronze? mine totally fell apart the bearings ended up around the crankshaft pulley damaging that as well. mike