Water pump failure after remap

[Schwarz]

Hi guys, feeling a bit down in the dumps at the moment as my car is in the garage and will be for another week .
I finally got round to getting my one click sorted last Friday on the rolling road and was REALLY pleased with the results.
I went for a spin on tuesday night and after about 2 miles the car made a horrible grinding noise which then became a constant whine. I drove to the nearby Skoda garage but no one was there. Some old bloke walked over and said that it was the alternator but said I'd be alright to get home (3 miles ish). So, I took it really easy and as i was going up the steep hill before my house, the temperature warning light flashed and beeped. I pulled up outside a mechanic friend of mine's house and he said I may have wrecked the head.
Managed to get the car towed into my work today (vauxhall garage), started the car and no whining. Left it running for about 5 mins with a mechanic looking at it when he noticed through the small gap on the engine that the water pump wasn't turning Turned the car off quick and have now got to wait for a new water pump and a new timing belt kit.
I'm curious as to whether anyone else has had this problem and also whether it could be due to the remap? This is the first mechanical problem that I have had with mine as it has been superbly reliable up to now which again makes me wonder about the remap. Any comments appreciated.

[Lummox]

Err how could he tell the water pump wasnt turning? If the front end isnt turning the engine isnt running as its cambelt driven. The impellor side of the water pump is buried in the block.

[WW_VRS]

It can happen but if it is broken, get the metal impeller pump instead. It should be more reliable

[Schwarz]

He couldn't believe it hadn't messed the timing up There's a little peep hole on the engine and nothing was moving inside where the water pump is, so that was his conclusion. What's this metal one? Cost? from where?

[vrsfab]

VW Water pumps are quite well known for failing. The plastic impeller either breaks or falls off the shaft.

If you're lucky it will just start to overheat and , if you notice, you can turn off and fix it.

If you're unlucky the impeller jams the pump and strips the cambelt which is pretty bad news and can be just about catastrophic.

It sounds like you've got away with it. Did it get really hot and boil the coolant ?

[Neo_VR]

Well its has warning beeps and lights BEFORE the engine gets damaged so itll be ok..

Awesome GTI change the waterpump when they do cambelts... altho this is the first time ive heard of one fail on a fabia... im glad i got mine changed

[WW_VRS]

They tend to fail after cambelt changes. Have a search for the metal impeller pump on the site, I have the part number somewhere in an email but off work now so haven't got easy access.

[Schwarz]

Yeah it did get really hot, water boiled over completely. I'm hoping that by only driving it for about half a mile from when the temperature light was beeping, it hasn't done serious damage. The cambelt hasn't been changed and the car is 3 months out of warranty so you can probably understand my concern

[WW_VRS]

I can

Top up the fluid before you drive it again, I used some ready-mix stuff from Halfords.

I'm quite happy your engine will not be in as bad a state as mine, but get it sorted straight away as otherwise you will do more damage.

[Schwarz]

My car is now back on the road Apparently, the water pump had started to poke through the cover next to it I was told that if the head gasket had been damaged, there would be a significant loss of power but i am glad to say there isn't Only downsides are that 1. I didn't have the time/patience to get a metal impellor water pump and 2. My temperature guage seems to get to 90 degrees a LOT quicker! I asked about this but was told that so long as it doesn't go over that it's ok

[piggeh]

so is it advised to get the water pump changed when you get a new cambelt? Would imagine cost would be a lot less, especially if they're in around the same place?

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by piggeh

so is it advised to get the water pump changed when you get a new cambelt? Would imagine cost would be a lot less, especially if they're in around the same place?

Yes, and I think it only adds 20-30 quid to the cost of the job..... best to check with the dealer to make sure it's done though as I don't think the service schedule advises it....

Chris

[piggeh]

Thanks. Will be at a local independent anyway so may even be less I guess.

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by piggeh

Thanks. Will be at a local independent anyway so may even be less I guess.

I hope so! My local VAG specialist wanted more than my local main dealers

Chris

[piggeh]

We have someone we use, charged £100 to replace my TDC sensor and Rocket Cover Gasket on my last car, when main dealers wanted £200, so should be ok I hope. Although the timing belt snapped a week later so maybe I should go elsewhere in future..

[WW_VRS]

The pump is about 75 quid IIRC, the metal one is another 20ish on top of that but IMHO money well spent

[SkodaLover]

Originally Posted by Schwarz

My temperature guage seems to get to 90 degrees a LOT quicker! I asked about this but was told that so long as it doesn't go over that it's ok

Sounds like there's air in the system and needs bleeding to me...

[WW_VRS]

The system is supposed to auto-bleed itself so I keep getting told. Once it is warmed up, do a bit of hard revving and drive it about, then let it cool overnight with the cap taken off. Please note that if you do this, GENTLY open the cap (engine off) with a cloth/rag over it to protect your hand against the steam (disclaimer: I nor Briskoda can be held liable for burning yourself etc). As you're opening it slowly, suddenly you'll hear air rushing in/steam rushing out. Keep it there for a bit to get the pressure down, then continue to open & take off the cap.

Personally I then put the rag + cap in front of my driver seat so I remembered it was off & dropped bonnet down.

Next morning, check the level is at the max line (not higher) and top up with G12 as required, then replace the cap.

If you've topped it up, you might want to repeat this process.

Please note if you open the cap too quickly, coolant will likely escape as it boils out and comes out of the reservoir's overflow.

[Schwarz]

Thanks, will do my best not to get burned! Luckily I work in a local vauxhall dealership and my missus works in a motor factors! So, my water pump and timing belt kit cost £110 and the labour to fit them was £40