Coolant Leak & use of Radweld

[classic]

11 minutes ago, J.R. said:

 

 

I wont lose sleep over maligning the motor trade in error this one time 😀

😂 neither will I !

[varaderoguy]

20 minutes ago, classic said:

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.

Interesting. Sorry to have lead MrSkoda up the garden path, but in most cases the waterpump and cam are on the same belt and location. I know this to be the case on the 1.2 and 1.0tsi engines. However, it still doesn't get away that lose of coolant is a bad thing....and that most early MK3's had this bad water pump part. The symptoms that are described so far show loss of coolant and a waterpatch under the car indicates this. The next indicator of a failing waterpump will be a temporary rising of engine temperature.  I do agree that this needs checking and investigation, so I stick with my original posting.

[classic]

I think pointing MrSkoda to a specialist is a good idea. I suspect the possibilities are a leak in the area of the pump which is disturbed to fit the timing tool or a pipe in that area leaking having been disturbed, an air lock due to it not being refilled with the proper vacuum tool, or the water pump itself.

10 minutes in a decent workshop should yield the answer.

[MrkSkoda]

2 hours ago, classic said:

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.

Hi Classic.  You have beat me to it.    

1.       I have found the source of the leak.  It is the water pump.  Feeling underneath it, I feel dampness.  There is also a small amount of coolant on the top of what I think is the DSG gearbox housing. 

2.       After watching a number of YouTube videos I discovered just as you said why the dealer did not change the water pump.  It’s located on the right side of the engine compartment, whilst the cam belt is on the left side.  The engine is a 103KW CHPA unit.  I don’t know if this different from the TSI engines normally fitted to UK Skoda’s.  The water pump is driven via a toothed belt from the exhaust camshaft.   The impression I got from the video is that the water pump being the other side of the engine is not directly dependant on the cam belt replacement.  Note I’m no mechanic and could be completely wrong with this!

 

These are 2 videos I consultanted.  Both have the same engine as mine even though one is VW Golf.:

1.       This video show replacing the water pump on a Skoda Octavia estate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEG1e59C0BE

2.       This video show changing cam belt on a VW Golf.  Again same engine as mine.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmYcwh1o474

[MrkSkoda]

2 hours ago, classic said:

I think pointing MrSkoda to a specialist is a good idea. I suspect the possibilities are a leak in the area of the pump which is disturbed to fit the timing tool or a pipe in that area leaking having been disturbed, an air lock due to it not being refilled with the proper vacuum tool, or the water pump itself.

10 minutes in a decent workshop should yield the answer.

 

2 hours ago, varaderoguy said:

Interesting. Sorry to have lead MrSkoda up the garden path, but in most cases the waterpump and cam are on the same belt and location. I know this to be the case on the 1.2 and 1.0tsi engines. However, it still doesn't get away that lose of coolant is a bad thing....and that most early MK3's had this bad water pump part. The symptoms that are described so far show loss of coolant and a waterpatch under the car indicates this. The next indicator of a failing waterpump will be a temporary rising of engine temperature.  I do agree that this needs checking and investigation, so I stick with my original posting.

Hi Classic,  Varaderoguy.  You have beat me to it.   .  I was going to post this a few hours ago but then got distracted!

1. I have found the source of the leak.  It is the water pump.  Feeling underneath it, I feel dampness.  There is also a small amount of coolant on the top of what I think is the DSG gearbox housing.
2. After watching a number of YouTube videos I discovered just as you said why the dealer did not change the water pump.  It’s located on the right side of the engine compartment, whilst the cam belt is on the left side.  The engine is a 103KW CHPA unit.  I don’t know if this is different from the TSI engines normally fitted to UK Skoda’s.  The water pump is driven via a toothed belt from the exhaust camshaft.   The impression I got from the video is that the water pump being the other side of the engine is not directly dependant on the cam belt replacement.  Note I’m no mechanic and could be completley wrong

 

These are 2 videos I consultanted.  Both have the same engine as mine even though one is VW Golf.:

1.       This video show replacing the water pump on a Skoda Octavia estate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEG1e59C0BE

2.       This video show changing cam belt on a VW Golf.  Again same engine as mine.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmYcwh1o474

 

If you can still recommend a name of good specialist garage in the Bedford Area that would be much appreciated

 

Sorry I have had to post basically the same post twice, but something timed out and would not let me edit it!

 

[classic]

Sorry I don’t know Bedford, this place looks good if the website is anything to go by ? https://blackridgeautos.com/
At least you know what the problem is, hope you get it sorted easily.

My 1.4 is 6 years old in December so I’ll keep an eye on the pump 😬

Edited 7 August, 2020 by classic

[mrgf]

I don't know the Bedford area but a trip down the M1 to London, off the A406 near woodford is a place called westside, if memory serves... Vw/Audi/Skoda specialists. Look them up, contact them and see if its worth the drive!

[MrkSkoda]

2 hours ago, classic said:

Sorry I don’t know Bedford, this place looks good if the website is anything to go by ? https://blackridgeautos.com/
At least you know what the problem is, hope you get it sorted easily.

My 1.4 is 6 years old in December so I’ll keep an eye on the pump 😬

Hi Classic.  Thank you for this.  They are in a convenient location in Bedford.  I will ask around locally to see what people think. 

 

Hopefully your car does not develop the same fault.  You have a slightly younger version of my Skoda.  Mine is a white SE estate too.  It's anoying that the seals can go like this on a water pump.  I'm assuming its the seals that have gone. Guess I will find out next week!

[varaderoguy]

Yes, agreed. Blackridge Autos seem good.

https://blackridgeautos.com/

 

Good luck with getting it fixed.