Getting my cambelt changed soon (2003 VRS now on 82000 miles)

I was wondering..... is the water pump change essential, and if so how many people really have had thier plastic ones fail?

Also, Westover Skoda, Dorset have qouted me £220 for cambelt change (they say they have never known a water pump to fail and alot of it is hype?). Would this price be for a full cambelt kit (rollers / pulleys etc?) Would most places change the cambelt as a whole kit, or just the belt?

Thanks in advance

Geoff

dont seem to pricy for the dealers

my mate owns his own garage and its a very common problem is the water pump going

on all 18t engined vag models

getting hold of a 18t engine from a breakers is impossible or a proper fortune if your pump does go and snapped your cambelt

i will wait for mine to go before flapping about it as you'd end up replacing all the bits on your car with better bits to avoid engine failures etc .

get it done mate.

I had mine done at 48k and the water impella was in about 5 pieces!

Yup, youd be a fool not to,

Definately change the water pump while the belt is off, it'll be a false economy not too especially as they are pretty cheap anyway.

I was wondering..... is the water pump change essential, and if so how many people really have had thier plastic ones fail?

Also, Westover Skoda, Dorset have qouted me £220 for cambelt change (they say they have never known a water pump to fail and alot of it is hype?).

I started a thread a few weeks back. Mine failed big time. Its a 2003 Octy VRS on 45K. It was a plastic impeller type. When it came out, it came out in pieces! Just search this site for issues with overheating under power, and running normal when idle. These are the typical symptoms of a failed water pump, and it is quite common. In my opinion, a mechanic that says it's all hype is obviously not used to working on the 1.8T engine. Get it changed, and get it changed for the metal impeller one.

Look at all these water pumps not one of them has failed http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia-i/anyone-doing-belt-pump/80669/. But do they look good to you. Anyway what would I know, it's all hype :eek:

I would also lookup Westover Skoda as several people have written reviews about them.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/skoda-dealers-south-west/westover-skoda-wimborne/38238/

Hee, hee :P Hype indeed then !

Some garages would benefit from the vast source of knowledge contained within this site

get it done for sure and get a metal pump fitted as its actually cheaper than a dealer supplied plastic one.

to change the water pump requires the removal of the cambelt so for the sake of a £20 pump its well worth it.

I would always change the water pump on a car that had the pump driven by the cambelt, weather or not it needed it. Whilst you are there it is daft not to IMHO.

The other day I replaced one on a 306 gti about 10,000 miles after it had been done previously just to make sure.

The normal sign that a water pump is on its way is that it starts leaking, (usually they are designed to do this) but if the impeller breaks as is all so common with these there is no notice, it just gets very hot and causes a lot of damage.

I hope Westover have improved. They did the warranty work on my Fabia and royally bu66ered it up!!! For the cost of a new water pump, I'd get it done as it'll save you £xxxx if the original one does fail

Chris

Fortunately I had opted to have the water pump changed along with the cambelt at just 18738 miles and 4¼ years. This is what the original looked like when removed:

Also, Westover Skoda, Dorset have qouted me £220 for cambelt change (they say they have never known a water pump to fail and alot of it is hype?). Would this price be for a full cambelt kit (rollers / pulleys etc?) Would most places change the cambelt as a whole kit, or just the belt?

Get it done.. but not by Westover. £220 sounds cheap for the full works to be be done by a dealer. Ask they what they actually change.

I just did my 131k belt change, so I did the pulleys, tensioners, water pump and the aux belt and a coolant change. Cost was parts only as I did the work myself, but it was time consuming!!

:eek:

Wow! Looks like a metal one it is then ....... cheers folks

I think Im going to stick with JKM performance in Portsmouth in that case. They have been the most honest and helpful so far

Getting my cambelt changed soon (2003 VRS now on 82000 miles)

I was wondering..... is the water pump change essential, and if so how many people really have had thier plastic ones fail?

Also, Westover Skoda, Dorset have qouted me £220 for cambelt change (they say they have never known a water pump to fail and alot of it is hype?). Would this price be for a full cambelt kit (rollers / pulleys etc?) Would most places change the cambelt as a whole kit, or just the belt?

Thanks in advance

Geoff

Yes I would get it changed as if the water pump goes you will be paying out at least the amount for a full cambelt change to save £25.

I'd also avoid Westover skoda like the plague, since IMHO they are at best a steaming pile of sh*te. Until they completely replace a large portion of their dealer staff and lose the attitude that they are doing you a favour when you go there, I don't think my opinion will change.

If you have a look for them under the review section you will see similar comments.

If you want a main dealer I'd recommend Meadens in Sway/Bransgore (B'mouth Seat are also part of the same lot)