November 2023,
Part 3,
New waterpump!:-
When I was servicing the car in October, I noticed that my coolant had very recently dropped in level! So I checked for leaks & found small pink coolant drops on the top bolts which connect the gearbox to the engine! This is directly beneath the water pump housing which is known to leak from the seals on these EA211 engines (VAG have issued a TPI for this problem, No.2047633/7). I had hoped that this fault would be noticed on the MOT & that would negate the need for the initial “diagnostics” fee that the dealers like to charge!
Unfortunately, they did not notice the leak (it was small) & so there was a bit of “to & fro” between myself & the service dept & me sending them photos of the leak & them checking with the parts blokes (some I have known for decades!)…In the end the service manager agreed with what I stated & decided that there no need for an initial diagnostics fee of £100!
Again this “we need to do a diagnostic” is a standard procedure, its recommended in the ERWIN books, & it helps cover the dealers from just wildly stabbing in the dark fault finding by replacing items, & racking up a parts bill for the customer! However, when the fault is clearly seen & known about, & the customer knows as much about his car as your trained techs do you ought to listen to him!!
On the EA211 engines the water pump is on the opposite side of the engine from the timing belt & is driven of the exhaust camshaft by its own belt. The water pump consists of an aluminium block with the water impellor in it, & a large black plastic cover which has the thermostat & the all water pipe stubs on it. The known fault is the seals leaking, specifically the one between the engine block & the aluminium water impellor block. The trouble is that to get to this engine seal the whole lot has to be taken off, & tightening the bolts on the plastic covers involves several stages & keeping the tension of the water pump belt!
As the whole lot has to be removed to get the faulty seal, & the plastic covers are known to break, you usually get the whole lot (aluminium impellor block, plastic cover with thermostat) as one part, with the belt being a separate item. I asked for a new belt to be fitted, as you have to remove the old one anyway!
The dealers did me a nice “deal” on the labour charge!..
For reference, the parts list & approx. costs in UK £
04E-121-600-CS, Water Pump (whole aluminium impellor block, with plastic over & thermostat), £195.60
04E-121-605-E, Toothed Belt, £24.42