Simple question really, to Octy II TDi water pumps fail? Do you know of anyone who has had a failure? Or is it all hype driven from the old recall from the Octy I days?

The only thing we have had is them slightly leaking when we have changed the timing belt but not had any of the plastic impellors coming off yet.

Is it still recommended to replace the water pump when you're doing the timing belt? I think there was an uprated pump available for the old TDi.

Is it still recommended to replace the water pump when you're doing the timing belt? I think there was an uprated pump available for the old TDi.

I called Skoda before my cambelt change and they advised not to change the water pump. I took their advice and now I have a small coolant leak, requires topping up once a month or so. I think Nigel has hit on the problem straight away. On the same theme, I took Skoda's advice that variable servicing was fine for the car, then had to replace the turbo at 56K.:rotz:

For £30 parts, plus 2* G12+ plus an extra 15 minutes labour, I'd do it.

You need to change the G12 every few years anyway, to keep the protection up, so £30+ now or the full cost of a cambelt change if it goes wrong later is a no brainier.