toledo 1.9tdi coolant leak possibly from water pump

[marked1]

Hi


I am getting a coolant leak on my 51 plate TDI toledo. I've looked underneath the car and there is coolant residue on the pulley closest to the ground on the drivers side of the engine. I am pretty sure this is the water pump pulley so i'm thinking there is a leak in the water pump. Its not gushing out but you can see pink residue from the coolant around the bottom half of the pulley.

However i have looked at the service history and the pump was replaced with the cambelt a year and a half ago (less then 15k miles ) at non other then a Halfrauds auto center (previous owner)

If the water pump does need replacing is it basically the cost of another cambelt change?

I've looked around the area and i cant see any source of a leak above the pulley however it is hard to have a good look.

The car is at 165k miles and looses around a half tank of expansion coolant every 500 miles or so.

I'm guessing if i don't get this sorted the bearings on the waterpump can deteriorate causing major failure. The car is worth less then £800 with decent sh, I bought it 5 months ago hoping to have a cheap runabout and work it to the ground so not wanting to spend big bucks on it.

Thanks for reading

[stevieturbo]

When it comes to needing water pumps that run in the cam belt area etc...always use OEM pumps.

Cheap crap is usually just that.

But it may run for a long time before falling apart...or it may be a few weeks.
Problem is you just dont know.

[marked1]

Yeah it's a shame really. I don't know what Halfords policy is regarding oem products but I would of made sure an original part would of been used. The warrenty only lasts 12 months and original owner with the part supplied now.

[Sardonicus]

stevieturbo said:

When it comes to needing water pumps that run in the cam belt area etc...always use OEM pumps.

Cheap crap is usually just that.

But it may run for a long time before falling apart...or it may be a few weeks.
Problem is you just dont know.

This.

[imagineifyeswill]

If your underneath the car and seeing a pulley with signs of coolant residue then that isnt the water pump, the water pump on VAG group 1.9 TDIs is inside the timing covers and cant be seen without removing the covers.

[marked1]

Quick update on this. It was indeed the water pump. £300 lighter now for a new cambelt kit and genuine water pump. Warning to others, dont skimp on parts like the last owner did. The difference between a genuine and non genuine water pump is a tenner.