Hi all,

Half way through doing my cam belt and noticed the water pump i bought had a plastic impeller . I thought people had stop making them because there **** and caused loads of problems? So i rang eurocarparts up and said 'do you sell a water pump with metal impeller?' he said they have one on the shelf and gave me a ref code. Luckily my mum was in the area and picked it up for me.

Took it out the box and yes..... Has a plastic impeller. WTF.

I might drop mine out in the morning and if it looks ok and the bearing seems good. I might just stick it back in and hope it lasts another 4 years. Then drive down to euro parts and throw the pump in the guys face really hard!

Or get on the push bike and swap it?

Gaz

All genuine water pumps still have a plastic impeller. They have been modified and as yet I've never seen a replacement one fail. Genuine water pump carries two years warranty and should it fail You have a good chance that engine damage would be covered. Non genuine parts will normally only have 12 months warranty and you got naff all comeback on it should it fail and take anything else out.

^ what he said!

Plastic one will be fine surely! A new one is better than putting the old one back in.

I would do the pump, and be polite with ECP about their website being incorrect whilst asking for a refund.

Might be worth dropping them a pm to look into it for you.

I haven't took mine out yet. Just stripped and set the timing. Are the plastic ones really that poo?

We use genuine VW plastic impellored ones all the time, without any problems.

I think the Plastic impeller water pumps is a common problem with the various 1.8 20VT engined cars as when I had my cambelt and pump done on my old mk3 Ibiza Cupra the OEM plastic one was in bits, and the new one fitted was a metal one. Think peeps are getting confused.

I might just stick it on and be done with it. I got a QH one and a kwp.

ECP sold me this.

Hi guys,

We have a traders forum here where we can answer questions and confirm things BEFORE you order.

I can confirm all OE pumps will be a plastic impeller - the Metal one is a modified after market version - we normally stock BOTH to give the customers a choice.

Although the metal one is stronger, IF it was to break at any point (after 1 year or 10 years) then it will cause more damage than a plastic one shattering.

Ive heard that too, also heard the metal ones can seize up and as a result they take the cam belt with it and you know what that will do lol.

Ide rather just have an overheating problem once for a few mins than a split second that takes all the valves.

I would stick OEM. VAG do know what they are doing.

Just to add to what Eurocarparts said...........I while back in VW Driver mag when there were lots of problems with the 1.8T engines people were slagging the plastic impellor as due to the heat/cool cycles the impellor was seperating off the knurlled bush on the spindle....so they all went out and started fitting metal impellors........and if somthing causes it to stick it jambs and then the timing belt strips off and then valve/piston contact.......were as if the plastic on fails it won't stick and you can still drive the car (to get to a garage) but keeping an eye on the engine temp!...OEM all the time for me!!!....

I was informed by a mechanic mate that you can no longer purchase metal impeller versions?

Incorrect. I've just purchased a Metal impeller pump from a VW main dealer...

The OLD water pumps used to break a lot but pretty sure VW has modified the part in recent years so the current ones are fine. I use oem water pump with no worries.

Incorrect. I've just purchased a Metal impeller pump from a VW main dealer...

For what engine? VW don't make em, they are the same part numbers as ours.

Done my cambelt today. My old water pump did have a plastic impella and was in good nick. Except the bearing was really tight.

Now I thought the OEM were all metal. I guessed wrong.

Cars running sweet. Took me 5 hours to do. Not the easiest cambelt to do. Also the tension was wrong when lady fitted.

I'd get the sack if I took 5 hours

Glad its all done

Haha. I'm a sparky. Probably explains why. 😊