Decided the tintop was well overdue a cambelt... its taken me all day to almost get the old one off. Its so awkward getting to the bolts that its just a case one one flat at a time...

The last obsacle is the waterpump whicch looks like this


The pump slots into the pig-iron block and is sealed by means of an O-ring. The two socket head cap screws fix it to the engine. There are not other locating lugs/pins etc.


I have undone the two bolts but bugger me I cant get the pump to shift... It wont rotate, pull out or anything. Anyone ever experienced this before and know how I can get the bugger out?!

I am trying not to destroy the old pump as its got a £20 surcharge on it!

Car is a 2001 Polo Gti 1.6 16v

I normally use a large drift made out of a lump of ally and give the outer part of the sprocket a clout with a large hammer . Do not reuse the old pump because you can't get it out as the impeller WILL fail , have never failed to get one out

I will try afresh tomorow.

I tried heating the pump body with a torch... bashing it from any angle I can get at it from and even tried a crude puller. I wonder if some monkey has used RTV at some point....... Its made harder because its such a tight engine bay.. but it shouldnt be THIS stuck!

Feed a drift in long enough to attack it with a hammer from above. try a sawn down brush pole to start, then ally bar if it wont budge and you dont want to destroy it

A £20 surcharge ?

think you have wasted enough time to think "bugger this, " and welt it with a hammer

steve

This was always a problem with Alfasuds and the best way to get them out was a slide hammer. I butchered an old pulley to fix the slide hammer to. It made a hard job very easy.

Any chance of gwtting a thin chisel or knife edge to prise it off?

if it,s anything like the old vauxhal pumps,a mighty big hammer or air chisle is the only answer

Lots of penetrating fluid and as you have a pump off the engine, make a pin spanner to fit in the mounting holes so you can try and twist it to break the seal. Otherwise I agree, drift and big hammer!
Good Luck.

Big drift/hammer combo and HIT it!

Because of other stuff (the engine) being in the way the angle will only be shallow but it will work. All the better if you can alternate from 2 directions (top and bottom). Like Rusty said...never failed to get one out yet but I wouldn't expect it to be reusable after.

You realy shouldn't be paying surcharge on a common water pump... In fact, can't remember ever being surcharged on one.

Got the bugger..... Bigger hammer required. Was corroded solidly in place. Hoping the new one seals in ok!

Surcharge is because it's a genuine vw pump I'm fitting so was super expensive. Figured I'd rather not risk a pattern part for the sake of £30 or so.


Recon they will give me the surcharge back?

Bit of superglue before you send it back!!

Hope the new one doesn't have the fully floating plastic impeller

VAG changed the material the impeller was made from originally it was made from Nylon 66 the combination of the material the antifreeze and shaft material caused the failures.

In addition stuck thermostats overloaded the pump exacerbated the problem as the pump didn't take too kindly to a pumping against a no-flow situation.

Yes, vag have rather a reputation for shite pumps. I've changed the stat at the same time just incase.

Almost there.... What a faff