Cam Belt/Water Pump Replacement

My Golf 1.3LS is in the garage today for a few bits and pieces. Because the cars full history is unknown the garage has recomended that i replace the timing belt sooner rather then later.

He has said to me that the water pump acts as a tensioner on this engine and should be replaced also. Is this true??

How easy/hard is this a job to do? Can i do this at home? Im pretty good with the spanners and someone has offered to help me as ive never done a Cam belt  :dontknow: The garage has quoted me supply and fit Belt, Water pump, and coolant £98.00.

Thanks in advance people  

£98 sounds like a pritty fair price to supply and fit all that mate, but i am no exert by any means

I did my own water pump and it was very easy

I havnt done a cambelt yet, but as long as you keep timing in right place i think its a fairly easy job

worth doing the belt for piece of mind definately

thats a very good price, i would just get them to carry out the work.

if they muck it up its their problem, if you do it its yours.

the water pump is fiddly as there is not a lot of room to work down that side.

yes the water pump is also the tensioner ,whole thing is rotated around to the correct tension.

-z