classic

I don’t know enough either having never done a cam belt change on one of these, but I’ve previously read the manual. I believe the water pump belt cover and possibly part of the water pump housing is removed to fit one of the timing tools - therefore the water pump is disturbed fitting the belt, so it wouldn’t take too much of a leap of imagination that if this is done wrongly a leak could be caused ! Also these engines are very prone to air locks as the cooling system should be vacuum filled, which a dealer should know about, but again it doesn’t take much imagination to see a dealer technician just filling the cooling system with a watering can...... and now MrSkodas car needs a few top ups as the air works out of the system.

The water pump on the 1.4 tsi is at the opposite end of the engine driven by its own separate drive belt. Therefore there is no reason for it to be incoperated in a cam belt change. The majority of water pumps on vag group cars are driven by the cam belt, and I suspect the service receptionist was initially ignorantly happy to carry out MrSkodas request to replace the pump with the cam belt. No doubt once the car was in the workshop the technician queried it as the water pump is nothing to do with the cam belt and is an expensive job in its own right. There have been some water pump failures of 1.4 tsi engines documented on here but not many, so it’s hardly an inherent fault. MrSkoda’s car is 6 years old and I don’t think we can diagnose it over the internet, although the water pump is a distinct possibility.

It could literally be anything, only way to find out is a proper inspection and pressure test. I would book it wherever you get the servicing done. Please don’t put radweld or anything similar into it.

I don’t know how to do it, and I would guess there is a safety/legal issue with disconnecting or disabling the handle especially as your car is a taxi. I have to use taxis a lot and the mind boggles that anyone would try and get in the front with the current global pandemic...... In all seriousness I would get a blow up doll, large teddy bear or shop window dummy, put a mask (officially approved face covering, not gimp😬) on it and strap it into the front passenger seat. Or pile a load of stuff on the front seat so it’s obvious it can’t be sat in. Tape over the outside handle with Duck tape in a big cross, just in case they don’t spot whatever is strapped in the front.