Water pump switchable vs non switchable

[James_leeds]

Hi guys,


Just a quick question regarding water pumps as I am getting mine changed soon.

Background
I drive a 2015 plate audi a3, which is a standard edition disease with a 2ltr engine. It's close to a 100k miles and I've recently got a new job in Manchester, which means I'll be commuting every day from Leeds (100 miles in total per day). I feel now is good time to change the timing belt and I don't think it has ever been changed - I'd hate to break down on the motorway. I've narrowed down my search to a gates timing belt kit which comes with a none switchable water pump. I have seen others on there which are 100 more but come with a switchable water pump. Do I need the switchable one, is it worth it?
From my brief research, I have found that they cause a lot of issues.

Also, the indi garage I got to recommend changing the crankshaft seal or crankshaft. I don't remember what he said but I'm assuming it is the seal as it said it costs around 50 to 80 quid. There is quite a few, anyone know which one it is?

I'm a complete novice when it comes to cars. Thanks for any help in advance.

Edited by James_leeds on Saturday 19th December 19:49

[GreenV8S]

James_leeds said:

Hi guys,
I'm a complete novice when it comes to cars.

The person changing the timing belt should know the answers to all those questions. Presumably that isn't you. Find somebody reliable and have them do the entire job, including sourcing the right parts.

[PositronicRay]

If there is an option to simplify something, without compromising longevity or reliability then take it.

[Evoluzione]

James_leeds said:

I drive a 2015 plate audi a3, which is a standard edition disease with a 2ltr engine.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to cars. Thanks for any help in advance.

What is this disease it has?

Take it to an indi Audi specialist, let them get on with it.
Pay the bill.

[milkround]

OP I had this with my gf's car...

For a start, you can't just pick and chose which water pump you use. If it had a switchable one it will need the same. Otherwise it won't fit - and even if you somehow could get it to fit and not leak you would have engine warning lights galore.

The switchable pump doesn't run using the teeth but from the back of the timing belt. So if it fails theoretically it will slip rather than causing the top and the bottom of the engine to join in a party that ends in tears.

The switchable pump is more expensive - and needs programming to the ECU. So it's not something for a DIYer or an old school arches mechanic. You are better taking it to a specialist or even a dealer depending on the price.

[Sheepshanks]

James_leeds said:

Also, the indi garage I got to recommend changing the crankshaft seal or crankshaft. I don't remember what he said but I'm assuming it is the seal as it said it costs around 50 to 80 quid. There is quite a few, anyone know which one it is?

I'm a complete novice when it comes to cars. Thanks for any help in advance.

Do you know which engine it is - it'll be the emission affected EA189 or the newer EA288?

Wife's Tiguan is one of the last of the mk1's and VW switched over to the EA288. It's just had the cambelt and pump changed at the dealer due to age - we do know a good indie but their price was near-enough the same and I've decided to keep the VW warranty going so didn't want any scope for hassle.

The only time I've seen the odd comment about changing seals is on US forums where the cars have done tremenous mileages and they taks about changing the seal at the second or third belt change, so by then the cars have typically done over 200K miles. It seems some of the kits sold in the US come with crankshaft and camshaft seals.

As others have said though, if you've got a trusted indie just let him get on with the job. It's a bit unusual to be buying the parts yourself.

[GreenV8S]

Sheepshanks said:

It's a bit unusual to be buying the parts yourself.

It's very unwise. From the point of view of the person doing the work, they have to trust that you've got the right parts and they're adequate quality - which they might well not be if the OP is doing this to try to save money. And from the owner's point of view it means that when any problems occur it's very difficult to hold the person doing the work responsible since they can immediately blame the parts supplied by the owner.

There isn't usually much money to be saved, and if for some reason you find you're able to save a lot of money you have to ask why that is. It won't be because you're getting equivalent parts at a lower price.

[milkround]

GreenV8S said:

It's very unwise. From the point of view of the person doing the work, they have to trust that you've got the right parts and they're adequate quality - which they might well not be if the OP is doing this to try to save money. And from the owner's point of view it means that when any problems occur it's very difficult to hold the person doing the work responsible since they can immediately blame the parts supplied by the owner.

There isn't usually much money to be saved, and if for some reason you find you're able to save a lot of money you have to ask why that is. It won't be because you're getting equivalent parts at a lower price.

It's absolutely BONKERS for this job.

I got my girls done at a top-rated independent. The motor factors sent the wrong pump 3 times (it needed the switchable one)! In the end they had to go directly to VW and buy one. And it was at no extra cost to me.

I've done cambelts and water pumps myself. And even after loads of research, I have always counted the number of teeth on the belt coming off to the one going on. And compared pumps carefully when it's off the car.

I don't agree that you can't save money. I did... I got a gates kit for a much better price because it was the old part number for the exact same thing. But I was able to look at it, check it and send it back if it was wrong. I've done similar on brake disks (with the hub included) by buying from a firm who had gone out of business and the stuff was being sold by someone who didn't know what they were selling.

I can't see any decent mechanic letting the customer order the parts. If they are wrong it's wasting lift time and mechanics time. For DIY it's fine... But if I were running a business there is not a chance in hell I'd even let the customer bring their own oil filter. It's not worth their time messing around.

[James_leeds]

milkround said:

It's absolutely BONKERS for this job.

I got my girls done at a top-rated independent. The motor factors sent the wrong pump 3 times (it needed the switchable one)! In the end they had to go directly to VW and buy one. And it was at no extra cost to me.

I've done cambelts and water pumps myself. And even after loads of research, I have always counted the number of teeth on the belt coming off to the one going on. And compared pumps carefully when it's off the car.

I don't agree that you can't save money. I did... I got a gates kit for a much better price because it was the old part number for the exact same thing. But I was able to look at it, check it and send it back if it was wrong. I've done similar on brake disks (with the hub included) by buying from a firm who had gone out of business and the stuff was being sold by someone who didn't know what they were selling.

I can't see any decent mechanic letting the customer order the parts. If they are wrong it's wasting lift time and mechanics time. For DIY it's fine... But if I were running a business there is not a chance in hell I'd even let the customer bring their own oil filter. It's not worth their time messing around.

You are 100% correct in that you do save money. Anyway, I know a lot of people use this forum and see these posts for guidance so I'll give you the breakdown below;

So I bought my parts from two different websites, one that sells parts and the other service parts. Both websites allowed me to enter my registration plate number so I got the right bits and also allowed returns if it was the wrong part. All of the stuff I got was brand new

Gates Timing Belt & Water Pump Kit - £101
Febi Crankshaft Oil Seal Timing End - £41
MANN air filter - £17.24
BOSCH fuel filter - £29
MANN oil filter - 8.74
Coolant change
Engine oil change


Labour (plus engine oil and coolant) = £200
Grand total for all this is £397

Touch wood, the car is running fine and all looks wells. Had a look at my old timing belt and it was knackered.


Thanks for all the advise guys, hopefully someone will find this post useful in the future.

Sorry, just to add. It doesn't really matter if you use a switchable or none switchable pump for my car (see original post), although it may be different for yours. The switchable pump it's better economically as it only sends coolant to the engine when required. The bottom line is, most websites have plate registration functionality allowing you to see what type of pumps are compatible with your car. If both are there, then your car will be fine with both. I used the none switchable pump.

Edited by James_leeds on Sunday 17th January 02:05