Thread: water pump bearing just let go

I can't help with a source for the new pump, but I was interested to see that your pump failure sounds very similar to mine.

There was no indication of a problem, no leaks and no noise. The bearing just suddenly collapsed sufficiently for the belt to come off and for coolant to pour out.

Fortunately it happened within a kilometre of starting, so the engine wasn't even warm.

mine started making a knocking noise as i left work (60km drive) about 5ks from home there was a sudden massive screeching noise, battery light on and no powersteering... pulled over and looked under bonnet and there was bits of belt everywhere and can wobble the water pump pulley with my hand... ugh... no water leak though thankfully, so i limped it home stopping if the temp gauge reached 3/4s

hoping i can get parts off the shelf to fix tomorrow as i'm missing out on work

well decided to bite the bullet and get a garage to do it, am staying in van parks for work at the moment so just not practical to diy it, $540 for new pump, belt, labour and coolant flush.

None of the auto parts stores apart from LR specialists stock TDI water pumps, repco have belts but thats all.
You can do the lot yourself for under $200.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

None of the auto parts stores apart from LR specialists stock TDI water pumps, repco have belts but thats all.
You can do the lot yourself for under $200.

With the mining boom in WA prices have gone up a lot in WA, so the labour costs would be very high there

is definitely the downside of living in wa the cost of things, wish i could have done it myself but where i'm staying won't let me work on the landy so i'd had to of limped the landy into town, got the parts and then limped it out into a quiet spot in the bush to do the work and then there would've been the chance i might sheer a bolt or something goes wrong leaving me stranded.
I guess the pump, belt and fluid would have totalled $300ish so they must be charging $120 an hour labour as he said it should only take an hour or two to do the work.. sad day since i've lost a days work as well, plus my offsider losing a days work as well, but guess thats cars for you, always going to be something let go eventually, just glad i was near town and not 100ks from anywhere out in the bush

Hmmm.... This thread has me concerned that mine might let me down as its still on the original pump from new (1997).
I was looking at my local LR parts list and see they have an OEM for $90 and another with 'steel impeller' for $60.
Anyone know if OEM is the go or if the 'steel impeller' is an improved version?
I guess if the OEM is the same as the original and its lasted 18 years then thats the way to go.
Also assume I need a new P gasket at the same time?

Cheers
Mark

Originally Posted by loanrangie

None of the auto parts stores apart from LR specialists stock TDI water pumps, repco have belts but thats all. You can do the lot yourself for under $200.

The water pump in my TDI now is from Repco. It wasn't out of choice, but as usual a weekend when the last one failed. Out of desperation I called around and Repco in Hoppers Crossing had one for around $70. About a year ago.