Had a service at 39k miles a month ago, then I got an email from Skoda Watford to say it was time for my 5 year cam-belt change. Shame they didn't tell me at the time!.

Anyway, I booked it in (£299) and was offered a chance to have the water pump changed at the same time "as it's so close to the cam belt and we''l have stripped the engine down already"

That would cost me an extra £100 rather than the £200 it would cost on its own.

 

I do about 6k miles a year, so what would you advise? Shall I get the lot done at once?

 

Your advice appreciated.

Always get the water pump done at the same time as they are prone to failure, and while the cars in bits for the cambelt anyway…

Yes, replace the water pump. £399 is a good price, does it include VAT? I paid £459 ( inc VAT) at Skoda MK last month for the same thing.

Always get the water pump done at the same time as they are prone to failure, and while the cars in bits for the cambelt anyway…

On what evidence do you base this ?

Of all the cars I've owned over the years I've never had a water pump fail !!

(and certainly not after only 39000 miles).

They do fail before 80,000 miles in some cases, 

so if doing the cambelt many will sensibly do preventative maintenance and change the water pump as well.

Not waiting until the next time you do a Cam Belt if your car is a keeper.

Nobody is making you do it, it is like changing Oil and Filters, Changing Brake Fluid at 3 years then 2 yearly etc,

Service and Maintenance and weighing up the cost to yourself of not having Service Schedule work done.

For an extra £100 I'd have it done and have the peace of mind. It would be so b*****y annoying to say "No, leave it" and then have it fail a few months later. (Yep, I guess I'm just a half-glass-empty kinda guy).

Yep always get the water pump done with the cambelt. Not a bad dealer price.... I was quoted £400-odd earlier this year so took it to my local VW specialist who did the cambelt and water pump for £296 (All VW parts).

Cheers all for the advice, I'll call them back and add it to the job.

 

Dave

was offered a chance to have the water pump changed at the same time "as it's so close to the cam belt and we''l have stripped the engine down already"

That would cost me an extra £100 rather than the £200 it would cost on its own.

Your advice appreciated.

The cam-belt does not just run close to the water pump, it runs on and drives it.

If the bearings fail it could throw the belt off and ruin your engine costing thousands.

I have had that happen (years ago under warranty).

Google 'vw cambelt inchcape'. They do cambelt & waterpump for £349. My Skoda dealer matched their price as there is an Inchcape vw dealer nearby.

Google 'vw cambelt inchcape'. They do cambelt & waterpump for £349. My Skoda dealer matched their price as there is an Inchcape vw dealer nearby.

~ $A750.

I'll keep that in mind but not hopeful.

On what evidence do you base this ?

Of all the cars I've owned over the years I've never had a water pump fail !!

(and certainly not after only 39000 miles).

I had it happen on a Ford. Had the belt and tensioners done, but I skimped on the pump. It started leaking within a few weeks.

Be grateful.... my cousin has an Audi A4 v6 pd diesel and he's about to change motors at the same time the cambelt change is due. The last one 5 years ago cost him £800...ouch

Be grateful.... my cousin has an Audi A4 v6 pd diesel and he's about to change motors at the same time the cambelt change is due. The last one 5 years ago cost him £800...ouch

'Wet' belts are around now....

All the ancillary issues need to be factored in when your priority is economy.

I had it happen on a Ford. Had the belt and tensioners done, but I skimped on the pump. It started leaking within a few weeks.

It's all about NOT disturbing the seal if you're not changing the pump.

On what evidence do you base this ?

Of all the cars I've owned over the years I've never had a water pump fail !!

(and certainly not after only 39000 miles).

You've been very lucky.

 

I'm not sure if VW persist with the plastic impeller water pumps but they are known too be shockers.

 

Water pump on my Octavia is the first failure I've had since ~1993.

You've been very lucky.

 

I'm not sure if VW persist with the plastic impeller water pumps but they are known too be shockers.

 

Water pump on my Octavia is the first failure I've had since ~1993.

Let's hope VW's commitment to quality over quantity is realised quick smart.......followed by a .... year/.......km warranty extension which they would not fear so much.

On what evidence do you base this ?

Of all the cars I've owned over the years I've never had a water pump fail !!

(and certainly not after only 39000 miles).

My water pump failed the day after it was changed. Less than 39 miles let alone 39000!

My water pump failed the day after it was changed. Less than 39 miles let alone 39000!

So, presumably, you now replace it at every service, just in case it happens again !!

If you're going to pay so much in labour to simply access and replace the belt you'd be crackers to take a punt on the pump going ten years.

If you're going to pay so much in labour to simply access and replace the belt you'd be crackers to take a punt on the pump going ten years.

No-one is suggesting "taking a punt on .... ten years" ! But what about "taking a punt on quite a bit more than 39000 miles or even before you replace the car.

My original point was merely to draw a comparison with, say, extended warranties where you make a financial decision on the probability of something happening againt the cost of "insuring" against it.

No-one is suggesting "taking a punt on .... ten years" ! But what about "taking a punt on quite a bit more than 39000 miles or even before you replace the car.

My original point was merely to draw a comparison with, say, extended warranties where you make a financial decision on the probability of something happening againt the cost of "insuring" against it.

Why do you think I was referring to your situation ?.

I was talking about the OP's situation.

Water pumps have bearings and seals and both wear .....the seal is the weak link and intolerant of disturbance such as cam belt change.

Corrosion inhibitors can only do so much.

On what evidence do you base this ?

Of all the cars I've owned over the years I've never had a water pump fail !!

(and certainly not after only 39000 miles).

I was fortunate in opting to have the water pump changed along with the cambelt of my Mk 1 Octavia 1.8T at just 18738 miles and 4¼ years. The water pump impeller was breaking up and would have failed completely before much longer. I also had the water pump changed again at the second cambelt change, and did the same for my Mk 1 Fabia vRS during its first and second cambelt renewals.

No-one is suggesting "taking a punt on .... ten years" ! But what about "taking a punt on quite a bit more than 39000 miles or even before you replace the car.

My original point was merely to draw a comparison with, say, extended warranties where you make a financial decision on the probability of something happening againt the cost of "insuring" against it.

I don't think you have a full understanding of the labour involved in changing the timing belt & pulleys and the small amount of extra effort involved in doing the pump while you are in there.

 

And yes, you are suggesting that you take a punt on a 10 year lifespan as 5 years have already passed and if the current mileage continues the next timing belt change is 5 years further down the track.  5+5=10

Volkswagen Group for Fleet / Business Lease do exactly take a punt on the vehicles they hire out,

they get different Service Advice and Maintenance Schedules / Guidlines than 'Private lease users or owners'.

 

When VW or the Lease Company owned the cars, they can seemingly 'Go without; until back in the Used car trade.

If you pay for your car and servicing, then VWG are telling you do Change Cam Belts more often,

ie,  Let the Official Dealerships earn some more readies to have fancy Showrooms to sell more Volkswagen Products 

that need replacement consumables more often.

 

Short VWG Warranties, and servicing advice and consumables of questionable reliability & quality,

and used cars out of Manufacturers Warranty are best feed good fluids and parts if you want to 

protect your investment and you have no idea how driven or maintained from new.

(if you had the car from new and know how used and serviced, then you might extend times between replacing parts.)

 

http://autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/62383/german-cars-among-worst-engine-failures

(Small and inexpensive parts can cause rather expensive failures,

and VW after decades of engine building still seem to have issues with Chains, Chain Tensioners and Water Pumps,

penny pinching on the important things, spend plenty on Plastic Chrome Bling and Advertising.)