Hi,

I'm new to this and think I posted this earlier in the wrong forum. I've just been told the water pump needs changing in my octavia, and have found out on here that the timing belt has to come off to change the pump. There's alot of reference on here that if your having the belt changed it's worth while changing the pump too, just wondering whether this advice is correct on the flip side ( if I'm going to get the water pump changed should i get the timing belt done at the same time? )

The water pumps don't look too expensive on their own (just for the part i mean) anyone got an idea how much (about) it should be to have a new pump fitted and how much more it'd be to have the belt changed aswell?

Any advice towards this would be appreiciated.

Cheers,

Chris

It is quicker to change just the pump than the pump and cambelt. I suggest you get prices for both and decide on the the basis of when the cambelt is next due.

Volkwagen genuine waterpump is pretty crappy too. You can get a superior alloy and brass impellor version from GSF parts for slightly more money, but it is a worthwhile upgrade, having seen the standard item.

Given that the cambelt should be changed every 60,000 miles or 4 years (whichever is the sooner), that might help you make the decision. Adds another £100odd to the bill though, just in parts alone.

Edited 21 July, 201114 yr by demonufo

If I were I'd change both of them to be on the safe side and to have peace of mind . I changed mine about 2 years ago and got the water pump and a cam belt kit all for £100 from skoda . Got my dads mate who specialise in VAG cars to fit it for another £100

The added cost to change the timing belt is mainly just parts costs as the additional labour cost is minimal. To gain access to remove the water pump is about 90% of the time to gain access to change the belt so it makes sense to change both at the same time.

I've just had the water pump changed under warranty due to a small leak and dealer replaced the timing belt for free !

I remember on my Rover it being so simple bish, bash, bosh £60 lighter in the pocket and that was that.

Now it is hundreds. I am putting money away for mine next year.

Volkwagen genuine waterpump is pretty crappy too. You can get a superior alloy and brass impellor version from GSF parts for slightly more money, but it is a worthwhile upgrade, having seen the standard item.

Given that the cambelt should be changed every 60,000 miles or 4 years (whichever is the sooner), that might help you make the decision. Adds another £100odd to the bill though, just in parts alone.

I can state they are crappy as mine cracked after only a year, but to be fair was a none OEM one. Never again will i use none OEM, learned my lesson. It caused over heating and very lucky i caught it whilst getting MOT done.

Strange as VW do not recomend the metal impeller ones, and all the Audi, VW and Skoda dealers will still recommend the plastic ones. I think this is because if the metal ones go wrong they sieze and thus snap the cambelt doing more damage.

To the OP it is a no brainer, replace both. It makes sense to replace both at the same time as it is in the same area. The cambelt has to come off/pulled out the way to replace the water pump so the main cost is water pump change anyway.

I'd replace both as well unless the belt has just been replaced. Like <10K miles and <1 year ago.

I'd certainly put a new belt in it, and a full cambelt kit if it wasn't changed in the last 10_000 miles. Quite apart from peace of mind, you then get VAG to pick up the bill for a failure in the next year if you use OEM parts.

Strange as VW do not recomend the metal impeller ones, and all the Audi, VW and Skoda dealers will still recommend the plastic ones. I think this is because if the metal ones go wrong they sieze and thus snap the cambelt doing more damage.

Correct, the genuine ones are now modified and are a much better bet than aftermarket ones etc.