I bought my 02 1.8T superb comfort in January with full Skoda service history and 37000 on the clock, I knew that at 60000 miles i would be looking at paying for a water pump and cambelt change as it has been well documented that the water pump is this engines achilles heel (makes a mokery of the cambelt lasting 120000 miles). Imagine my shock and disapointment when just as the clock ticked over 40000 miles is started getting overheating problems which my local Skoda dealer confrimed was the water pump and the plastic impellar ( yes plastic!!!!! ) had broke in 2 and I faced a nice bill off over

It's very annoying. It's not just in the Superb, and it's also not just the 1.8T.

IIRC some tuners replace the plastic one with a metal one if you get the belt & pump changed, definitely spotted AwesomeSarah posting about that recently (but I'm sure others could/do the same)

IIRC some tuners replace the plastic one with a metal one if you get the belt & pump changed, definitely spotted AwesomeSarah posting about that recently (but I'm sure others could/do the same)

It's very common, I think everyone BUT franchised dealers use the metal impellor water pumps.

I bought my 02 1.8T superb comfort in January with full Skoda service history and 37000 on the clock, I knew that at 60000 miles i would be looking at paying for a water pump and cambelt change

The cambelt is now due replacement at 4 years if you haven't reached the 120K mileage limit by then. My 1.8T 4X4 is booked in next week for a cambelt and tensioner change plus water pump and a modified dual temperature sender.

Since metal impellor water pumps have been mentioned above, I have been told that the design of the standard water pump has been modified so that it cannot fail like the earlier one. Does anyone know different?

I had to replace my Water Pump on my Bora at 96k due to this 'Plastic vs metal' issue, hoping that the Superb one won't give up the ghost just yet but it is a common problem I am afriad.

I don't think that you can replace the impellor, you have to replace the whole unit.

I can kinda half understand the franchised dealers don't change this part, as they are probably told to use the factory approved parts only and exclusively.

That said off-factory I'm surprised the VAG group still hasn't addressed this, as it's so widespread. They could at least have altered the design once they realised there was a problem. Could imagine they didnt want to do a recall.

Must remember not to use a franchised dealer for my cambelt change as well then, I suppose

Must remember not to use a franchised dealer for my cambelt change as well then, I suppose

I don't use any dealer, from my experience they have little knowledge of the vehicle and are usually only fitter's as opposed to mechanics.

That said, I do not have or have never owned a brand new car.

They could at least have altered the design once they realised there was a problem.

They have.

I don't use any dealer, from my experience they have little knowledge of the vehicle and are usually only fitter's as opposed to mechanics..

:P

I don't use any dealer' date=' from my experience they have little knowledge of the vehicle and are usually only fitter's as opposed to mechanics.

That said, I do not have or have never owned a brand new car.[/quote']

:eek: Every dealer I've had dealings with have been very helpful and have always been able to diagnose any issue I've had. I also know of the odd dealer's mechanic that is extremely helpful even outside work

Back to the original subject... my water pump died at 43000 miles on the button and has been replaced by my local dealer without issue.