Thread: coolent leak

Generally if I have a water pump out on most cars and it has been in for more than two years I will change it out anyway. Nothing worse than a water pump failure on the side of the road. Preventative maintenance goes a long way and as Murphy's law states if you dont fix it while you got it apart it will self destruct at the most in-opportune time.
Really it all depends on the cost and availability and how much spare change you have. It is one of those jobs that is a pain in the butt and to repeat it a few months down the track is not on.

Originally posted by CraigE
Generally if I have a water pump out on most cars and it has been in for more than two years I will change it out anyway. Nothing worse than a water pump failure on the side of the road. Preventative maintenance goes a long way and as Murphy's law states if you dont fix it while you got it apart it will self destruct at the most in-opportune time.
Really it all depends on the cost and availability and how much spare change you have. It is one of those jobs that is a pain in the butt and to repeat it a few months down the track is not on.

OK... All I was getting at was, why don't you just inspect the flippin' thing before replacing. :roll: If it feels OK & you're that concerned, just carry one as a spare. Hell... A TDi with 220k on the clock, you'd better replace the whole motor if you're that concerned.

Mark.

ok the shopping list

1 x p gasket
3 x 125mm bolts
gasket gue whats the best and from where
2 x drive belts
coolant of some sort whats the best and from where
1 x chain clamp for the pulley
1 x set of ezyouts on standby

what else do i need

Well a couple of pointers:

If you are doing the job yourself:

Relieving the tension on the main belt tensioner for the belt's removal will require a double ended 17mm on one end ring spanner, a long screw driver and something to wedge under the screw driver.... 8O this needs photos and that I am happy to provide...but not tonight :wink:

The removal of the viscous fan on a Disco requires a "special "thin spanner but it is possible to remove both belts with out removing the fan...just a bit of a fiddle.

Get the main belt with the "hatched" as opposed to the smooth surface (the other side to the grooved face). This will reduce the belt squeal.

Fitting the main (serpentine) belt requires patience and the prodigiuous use of foul language muffled from spectators because you are lying underneath the vehicle as you just manage to get the eff'ing thing around the crank shaft pulley.

Don't forget copious amounts of self adulation and a couple of cold ales afterwards

with my next two weekends now booked out with family stuff and the leak getting worse the fender is off to m r automotive toomorrow to be fixed, i hate paying for other people labour but have no choice

thanks for you input guys, at i know what i need to do if i'm stranded somewhere