VAG 1.5TSI Water Pump

[Juanco20]

My 67 plate Ibiza 1.5 TSI is at the point where the cambelt needs changing, 41000 miles. The water pump on these engines is independent from the timing belt and on the opposite side of the crankshaft so it seems fine to just get the belt done.

I'm struggling to get a definitive answer as to what age or mileage the water pumps are good for. I can't really afford to get both done together at the moment and the water pump adds a significant cost as it sounds like a bugger to get to and replace. Is it wise to leave the water pump for a few thousand more miles?

[MervJnr]

I think VAG have recently changed their tune in terms of cambelt changes. I think for our 1.0 TSI Polo it's a lifetime part, maybe recommended to change at ~150K. It may be different for your engine. Not sure on the waterpump topic though!

[7 5 7]

IMO at that mileage, I would leave it until it shows signs of failing or noise.

I've just done my waterpump on my Vauxhall, similar setup with it being independent from the timing belt, only just changed it as it was leaking coolant, mileage was 149,000 miles, and was original.

[stevemcs]

Water pump does not need changing as it sits on the gearbox end, belts used to be 5 years but that may have changed - our system still says 5 years. Most need a certain piece of equipment to go on the back of the cams to set them up.

The petrols seem much better than the diesels, the 2.0 diesel with switchable pump I would be getting done every 4 years regardless of the new policy.

[Sheepshanks]

VW Group changed its guidance on 1st July 23 and it's now 15yrs or 180K miles for cambelt change.

I guess in reality that means "lifetime" - as it's quite a big job on the 1.5 and needs special kit to set it up, I can't see many ever being changed in the future. If they break then that'll be the end of life for the car.


There was never any need to change the water pump on the petrols - on the diesels it was recommended as it gets disturbed during the cambelt change.

[Juanco20]

Sheepshanks said:

VW Group changed its guidance on 1st July 23 and it's now 15yrs or 180K miles for cambelt change.

I guess in reality that means "lifetime" - as it's quite a big job on the 1.5 and needs special kit to set it up, I can't see many ever being changed in the future. If they break then that'll be the end of life for the car.


There was never any need to change the water pump on the petrols - on the diesels it was recommended as it gets disturbed during the cambelt change.

So you think it's safe to not change the cambelt unless there are obvious signs of it starting to fail?

I've been quoted £400 for cambelt change, brake fluid and MOT which I thought was quite reasonable.

[Sheepshanks]

Juanco20 said:

So you think it's safe to not change the cambelt unless there are obvious signs of it starting to fail?

I've been quoted £400 for cambelt change, brake fluid and MOT which I thought was quite reasonable.

That's an interesting question, The SEAT dealer daughter uses "red flagged" the cambelt change for her 1.0TSi at 5yrs saying they'd been told to advise customers that if it breaks it isn't covered by warranty, even if the car has extended warranty etc. I think that's nonsense, but hope we don't have to test it.

I hummed and hawed about and eventually had it done a couple of years ago on wife's diesel at 5yrs and only 30K miles. I emailed VW Germany and they said change it at 210,000kms with no age limit. I asked why VW said 5yrs and they stopped responding.

£400 (or somewhat less if you take the MOT and BF out) is an amazing price - are you sure they know it's the 1.5? There are reports of VW specialists refusing to do it as they don't have the kit needed to set the timing up - apparently when VW designed the engine it was never meant to have the belt routinely changed. Before VW UK's change of heart peoeple seemed to be paying £1000+ to get it changed (on the 1.5). Maybe that's ACT specific - is yours ACT (goes in to 2cyl mode)?

[Juanco20]

Sheepshanks said:

That's an interesting question, The SEAT dealer daughter uses "red flagged" the cambelt change for her 1.0TSi at 5yrs saying they'd been told to advise customers that if it breaks it isn't covered by warranty, even if the car has extended warranty etc. I think that's nonsense, but hope we don't have to test it.

I hummed and hawed about and eventually had it done a couple of years ago on wife's diesel at 5yrs and only 30K miles. I emailed VW Germany and they said change it at 210,000kms with no age limit. I asked why VW said 5yrs and they stopped responding.

£400 (or somewhat less if you take the MOT and BF out) is an amazing price - are you sure they know it's the 1.5? There are reports of VW specialists refusing to do it as they don't have the kit needed to set the timing up - apparently when VW designed the engine it was never meant to have the belt routinely changed. Before VW UK's change of heart peoeple seemed to be paying £1000+ to get it changed (on the 1.5). Maybe that's ACT specific - is yours ACT (goes in to 2cyl mode)?

Yes it drops a cylinder at low revs.

Seat raised it during the service saying it needed changing due to age and mileage. I don't think visually or operationally they spotted anything worrying, it's just policy now (money maker) to advise a change at this age and/or mileage. They wanted £850 for the pleasure but I'm assuming that included changing the water pump too.

[stevemcs]

I’d be triple checking the garage quoting £400 have actually looked at what’s involved- we refuse to quote.

[Sheepshanks]

Juanco20 said:

Yes it drops a cylinder at low revs.

Seat raised it during the service saying it needed changing due to age and mileage. I don't think visually or operationally they spotted anything worrying, it's just policy now (money maker) to advise a change at this age and/or mileage. They wanted £850 for the pleasure but I'm assuming that included changing the water pump too.

When was that? I keep an eye on Tiguan / Ateca / Karoq forums and just after VW UK's change of heart on this on 1st July there were multiple people, I think mainly VW owners, who posted up to say dealers had rung them to cancel cambelt change appointments - which is pretty amazing in itself. I can only assume the dealers had been told to do that in case people found out the guidance had changed and started demanding their money back.

So I was a bit perplexed when the SEAT dealer red flagged it as "cambelt change required". (this was end of Aug 23). To be honest I just put ot down to them being useless scamming bds. They're in a different league of uselessness compared to other dealers we use - it took my daughter three trips there to get the service work done in August. They make the VW dealer we use seem wonderful, which is saying something.

[Juanco20]

stevemcs said:

I’d be triple checking the garage quoting £400 have actually looked at what’s involved- we refuse to quote.

You refuse to change the cambelt or the water pump?

[Juanco20]

Sheepshanks said:

When was that? I keep an eye on Tiguan / Ateca / Karoq forums and just after VW UK's change of heart on this on 1st July there were multiple people, I think mainly VW owners, who posted up to say dealers had rung them to cancel cambelt change appointments - which is pretty amazing in itself. I can only assume the dealers had been told to do that in case people found out the guidance had changed and started demanding their money back.

So I was a bit perplexed when the SEAT dealer red flagged it as "cambelt change required". (this was end of Aug 23). To be honest I just put ot down to them being useless scamming bds. They're in a different league of uselessness compared to other dealers we use - it took my daughter three trips there to get the service work done in August. They make the VW dealer we use seem wonderful, which is saying something.

This is my first Seat and I've been shocked at what they've tried to charge for certain things. To be fair the actual customer service side of it has been very good and fairly pain free.

[DanSkoda]

The water pump has to come off when replacing the cambelt on these 1.5TSi engines, one of the first things that comes off.

We see various 1.5TSi engines coming in with issues once the timing belt has been replaced elsewhere as they're so precisely controlled, tipex/paint marks isn't going to cut it on these!

The correct tool is around £1500-1800 to set the timing on them and is a massive time sink as it takes at least 3 attempts on average to get them in spec.

It varies on engine code, but you've usually got +-1.1° of leeway per camshaft to remain in spec. Go outside of that and it's limp mode and lights on the dash.

The 5 year interval has now been scrapped on timing belts, so is just mileage based. The water pumps on these very rarely leak (was more of an issue on the 1.4TSi engine) and while the part is probably expensive it's not too much work to do along with the little belt that runs it.

[stevemcs]

Juanco20 said:

You refuse to change the cambelt or the water pump?

If it was the 1.4/1.5 where you need the equipment to go on the cams - as Dan mentions we would not take the job on. It’s pointless in quoting for something you cannot do right. That’s why the garage that’s quoted £400 you really need to check they are doing it correctly

This sort of thing

https://rcmr.co.uk/services/tsi-timing-belt-replac...

[Fast and Spurious]

Juanco20 said:

Yes it drops a cylinder at low revs.

Seat raised it during the service saying it needed changing due to age and mileage. I don't think visually or operationally they spotted anything worrying, it's just policy now (money maker) to advise a change at this age and/or mileage. They wanted £850 for the pleasure but I'm assuming that included changing the water pump too.

The 1.5 drops 2 cylinders at low loads, not 1 cylinder at low revs. Are you sure you know what engine you have???

[Lecket]

Sheepshanks said:

I think mainly VW owners, who posted up to say dealers had rung them to cancel cambelt change appointments - which is pretty amazing in itself. I can only assume the dealers had been told to do that in case people found out the guidance had changed and started demanding their money back.

I was pleased when my Skoda main dealer rang to advise about the cambelt no longer needing to be changed on my 2018 Octavia VRS diesel, excellent service. This was something like 3rd July, so good timing!

[jeremyc]

There's a thread on the removal of the 5 year interval for cambelt changes by VAG

[Sheepshanks]

Lecket said:

I was pleased when my Skoda main dealer rang to advise about the cambelt no longer needing to be changed on my 2018 Octavia VRS diesel, excellent service. This was something like 3rd July, so good timing!

Comments on forums suggest VW dealers basically refused to even discuss changing the belt with owners who were bemused by the sudden change after years of being told it was essential.

Bearing in mind they’re all the same company, it makes SEAT’s attitude very strange - both the OP and I have experienced dealers who are still suggesting the belt should be changed.

[stevemcs]

Lecket said:

I was pleased when my Skoda main dealer rang to advise about the cambelt no longer needing to be changed on my 2018 Octavia VRS diesel, excellent service. This was something like 3rd July, so good timing!

I’d still get that changed.

[Belle427]

I'd stick to 5 years on the timing belt if it were my car but I do most of them myself so no labour charge.
I do get the belts last longer these days but it's just not worth it, start stop motoring etc all puts more of a strain on things.