Hi all,

 

I've been living with a slow coolant leak for over a year (problem existing before lockdown so difficult to estimate when it started) but definitely topped up more than 5L in 12 months. There's clear evidence of leakage underneath the water pump area with general 'wetness' and pink residue/crystals on top of what I think is the gearbox and suspension. There's also residue on top of the toothed belt guard/cover so that's a clue what's happening inside.

 

After searching this forum and wider I understand that my (1.4 TSI EA211 CZDA) engine has the water pump on the passenger's side separate to timing belt, and that although not as common as diesel, there are reports of leaks from pump and/or housing in petrol models. I can't pin-point the leak to pump, thermostats or housing as its difficult to see but there are visible drips on the black plastic.

 

After shopping around (budgeting for worst assumption of total replacement) I'm getting various prices for replacement from different garages (Bristol to Stroud 'corridor').

 

Skoda main dealer-  £873

Indy VAG garage #1- £370

Indy VAG garage #2- £670

Indy VAG garage #3 - est. £550 (to be fair requested a look).

 

This price range has confused me. What prices have others paid in the past or considered reasonable?

 

Am I asking for the right job? I have asked for new water pump AND thermostat housing AND belt to be fitted. I didn't mention gaskets/sundries/pressure testing or priming with new coolant as I assumed that would be included.

 

Because I don't know exactly where the leak is I would prefer a replacement of the wider assembly instead of say, just the pump part. I consider 'big ticket' jobs like water pump replacement to be a once in a lifetime of ownership event with severe consequences of cooling failure (family use). So although the thermostat housing looks quite expensive (I'm assuming 2x thermostats, housing covers and gaskets are included) it would give peace of mind.

 

I am using http://www.vwgolf.org/assembly_overview_coolant_pump_thermostat-1694.html for reference. There are also youtube videos for this type of engine - they all appear to replace the housing assembly and not just the water pump sub-assembly. The videos also indicate the labour that could be involved.

 

Any assistance or tips would be appreciated - even if it's how I can dialogue with garages.

 

Ta

 

If I make progress I'll update this thread for others.

I just replaced mine last month. I used a genuine Skoda water pump which comes as a complete part with the thermostats and their plastic housing, and a new seal.

It cost me £207 for all the genuine Skoda parts - coolant pump assembly, drive belt, and 3 litres of coolant.

It took me about 3 hours to fit it myself, but would think the book time for a garage would be about 1.5 hours, so how your Skoda dealer gets to £873 is beyond me...

 

Edited 25 May, 20215 yr by classic

15 minutes ago, Xenon1024 said:

I have asked for new water pump AND thermostat housing AND belt to be fitted. I didn't mention gaskets/sundries/pressure testing or priming with new coolant as I assumed that would be included.

Why have you asked for a 'belt' to be fitted? Which belt? As you correctly say on the 1.4 the timing belt is on the other end of the engine.

 

If you have had the timing belt replaced according to Skoda UK's recommended 5 years that would have been in 2019 so replacing it again would seem unnecessary IMHO.

14 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Why have you asked for a 'belt' to be fitted? Which belt? As you correctly say on the 1.4 the timing belt is on the other end of the engine.

 

If you have had the timing belt replaced according to Skoda UK's recommended 5 years that would have been in 2019 so replacing it again would seem unnecessary IMHO.

I guess I misread it and the £873 quote is for a timing belt and the water pump, in which case that price makes sense.

For what it’s worth, I wasn’t going to put mine back together without a new water pump belt as it was only £16 for the genuine belt. The original belt looked like brand new though and had done 80000 miles in 6 years.

Edited 25 May, 20215 yr by classic

I asked for a new belt (for the pump) because the car's got 44+ K miles / 5 yrs on it, the leak may have damaged it, it's not going to cost much, and the linked service manual states to replace with new whenever the pump is removed.

 

I suspect that's why there's a range in price quotes - some garages may have assumed a timing belt (and kit) change, which is not what I'm after and would cost megabucks.

Update. To continue my first post:

 

Skoda main dealer-  £873

Indy VAG garage #1- £370

Indy VAG garage #2- £670

Indy VAG garage #3 - est. £550 (to be fair requested a look).

-------

Indy VAG garage #4 £350 "pump only"

Indy VAG garage #5 £432

Indy VAG garage #6 £380 "cambelt not included"

 

To be fair to garages, they can't always know the water pump on this VW engine is not linked to the timing/cambelt side.

I booked in with one of the garages in June, I shall update on my experience.

 

For my curious mind I paid the £7.28 for erwin access to seek some juicy titbits (as well as workshop manual) for my VIN.

 

I then realised that the range in prices could be because it's not as simple as pricing for "a new water pump" because there are:

• Thermostats x2 (the workshop manual now calls them "coolant regulator") for which there appears to be two versions for the large circuit (start of opening 105 or 97 C).
• Thermostat (coolant regulator) housing and covers
• Toothed belt

Are there any forum rules about posting TPI reports from erwin? I have a couple of relevant ones which would be useful for others.

21 hours ago, Xenon1024 said:

To be fair to garages, they can't always know the water pump on this VW engine is not linked to the timing/cambelt side.

Even Skoda dealers get it wrong, I had to tell Marshalls Barnstaple that as the water pump is on the other end of the engine on my 2015 1.4 I didn't want the water pump changing when they replaced the cambelt last year.

As I stated above I found TPI Reports x 2 for my VIN when searching for "coolant":

 

First one:

 

Basic filtering: Brand C; Model year 2016

Transaction No. 2045292/2

Release date 19-Sep-2016

Service information: Contamination of V-ribbed belt by coolant

 

Customer statement / workshop findings
The V-ribbed belt was contaminated by coolant caused by its leakage.

 

Technical background

Production change

Measure

• The ribbed belts used in Škoda vehicles are not coolant sensitive as they are manufactured of the same material like the coolant hoses.
• Therefore, there is no reason to replace the V-ribbed belt, which came into contact with the coolant and was then dried.
• In individual/sporadic cases – if leakage of the coolant system occurs, deposits or coat on the belt may be created (e.g. caused by dye contained in the coolants), which may damage the V-ribbed belt.
• In these special cases, the belt is to be replaced. The decision about the replacement is to be made individually by the Škoda partner – on the basis of his own assessment.
• The necessity to replace the V-ribbed belt within warranty or goodwill is to be documented by detailed photo documentation in the DISS system.

------------------

Therefore it seems an easy decision to change the belt if it's going to be under £20 when you're taking off the pump anyway...

 

Second one:

 

Basic filtering: Brand C; Model year 2016; Engine code CZD%

Transaction No. 2049883/6

Release date 02-Oct-2019

Service information: Warning light for coolant shortage or coolant temperature is on, coolant leakage in pump area

 

Customer statement / workshop findings

• The warning light for coolant shortage/temperature is on; and/or
• The coolant level in the expansion tank dropped below minimum; and/or
• Coolant leakage under the front vehicle part/engine compartment.

--------------

see attached for remainder of report that has details and pictures

--------------

 

This TPI represents exactly my situation (and confirms work would've been covered if I was within warranty). Of interest is that there are essentially two solutions: replace the pump seal or replace the whole coolant pump, in accordance with manual and spare parts catalogue (ETKA). The diagram referred to for the "whole coolant pump" makes no doubt that it is referring to EVERYTHING ie all gaskets, pump, thermostats/regulators, housings, covers, screws.

 

I then decided to telephone SKODA main dealer #2 and after giving my reg, cut to the chase quoting for "replace pump as described in TPI ref # 2049883/6" and got a (more believable) main dealer price of £496.

 

Lesson #1. Do homework from erWin for £7.50 first.

2049883-6.pdf

12 hours ago, Xenon1024 said:

Second one:

 

Basic filtering: Brand C; Model year 2016; Engine code CZD%

Transaction No. 2049883/6

Release date 02-Oct-2019

Service information: Warning light for coolant shortage or coolant temperature is on, coolant leakage in pump area

 

--------------

 

This TPI represents exactly my situation (and confirms work would've been covered if I was within warranty). Of interest is that there are essentially two solutions: replace the pump seal or replace the whole coolant pump, in accordance with manual and spare parts catalogue (ETKA). The diagram referred to for the "whole coolant pump" makes no doubt that it is referring to EVERYTHING ie all gaskets, pump, thermostats/regulators, housings, covers, screws.

 

I then decided to telephone SKODA main dealer #2 and after giving my reg, cut to the chase quoting for "replace pump as described in TPI ref # 2049883/6" and got a (more believable) main dealer price of £496.

 

Lesson #1. Do homework from erWin for £7.50 first.

2049883-6.pdf 214.91 kB · 2 downloads

That’s the manufacturer not wanting to pay a repairing dealer for a new pump under warranty if it was only the seal. 
With the labour cost to get to that seal being more than the price of a pump for a retail customer, it would be a false economy for you to only get the seal done, if it was just that on yours.

My coolant level was going from max to min in 1000 miles, with a small amount of coolant visible on top of the gearbox. Once I got it apart, there was evidence of a very slight weep from the pump itself.

£496 sounds about right for a dealer to replace it .

 

Having logged back on I realised that I never gave closure on this thread which can serve as reference for others. Final itemised cost via Indy VAG garage was:

• £120 + VAT labour for removing and installing water pump,
• £161.18 + VAT Water pump
• £11.60 + VAT "Long life Antifreeze red"

I did get an oil service at the same time so not sure if that helped with rates.

 

Having done 3600+ miles since June including 7 hour journeys and no sign of leaks or overheating. The only thing is I'm not entirely convinced they used the correct G13 coolant (VW TL 774 J spec) as it's looking rather red (so perhaps G12) but as far as I'm aware it's compatible. I also can't find any evidence of having the dreaded silica bag in the tank so I think I'm safe on that topic.

Hi all,

 

I have just had the same issue (coolant leak, pump responsible, TPI: 2049883/6) just after my warranty expired. So, August '24, a fair while after the quotes/issues above.

 

Marshalls in Newbury first took it in, charged the £100 diagnostic, then they thought they could charge me £1311.54 for: "Inspection Notes: Carried out investigation into coolant loss, carried out system pressure test, found leaking around coolant pump area, TPI 2049983/6 is relevant. Requires coolant pump seal and associated parts reference TPI."

(Note: there is a typo in their TPI reference, it's actually the one identified earlier in this thread, I checked.)

 

So, after the initial panic attack, I hunted on forums and such for the issue to get informed, including this thread (thank you so much!). I called them back to challenge the work, they itemised the breakdown and apologised for "putting the wrong labour cost by accident" and said £995 instead for the job: ~£225 for parts and the balance for labour (all incl. VAT). That's apparently 4.5hrs labour (I'm in the wrong industry!), down from the "accidental" 6hrs. I asked them why it would take so long and they had no answer, so I said fine I'll get some other quotes...

 

Checking the nearest Skoda Approved repairers on the Skoda map, I got (all inclusive) quotes to replace the water pump: £573 from Banbury, £536 from Swindon, £589 from another Marshall garage in Reading, £556 from Winchester, and £629 from Southampton. The cheapest is a £459-£775 saving on the original quote (£995 or £1311, your choice).

 

VERY importantly some of them shed a little bit of light on the price: 2.2hrs is the "Skoda National Catalogue" book time to complete the job. Southampton were a bit pricier on the parts, hence the range.

 

Still awaiting some local indy Skoda specialist garage quotes to come back to me tomorrow, but the lowest so far is £472 from Oxford.

 

I phoned Newbury back and gave them the information, and there was no manager in or anything, so the lovely but very new service assistant couldn't do or say anything to help, so I've collected my car, given them the £100, and will not be going back there again.

 

Thought you should all be made aware of this. I was very disappointed in the garage I've previously enjoyed great service from. Currently debating how important the "approved Skoda" repair credentials are considering the attempted theft so far.

 

 

Edited 22 August, 20241 yr by prennie

467.12 if you can get to Gloucester.

Final quote came through from Brightwell Garage near me. £457.15 all in. Perfect!

 

Lesson: read up on the issue whenever you get slapped with a giant bill from your chosen garage... Can't believe they originally asked me to pay £1311.54!! 

Does anyone know of this little divit is a defect in this new Meyle 1.4tsi waterpump?

I’m concerned that it may induce a leak!

Cheers

Patrick

It looks like an intentional machining, but does not appear to run beneath the sealing ring - if so, would not affect the seal.

It does look neat, doesn’t it. I’m curious if anyone has seen this divit before or otherwise have seen this pump without a divit?

Looks deliberate. Here's one off ebay