water pump

Hi could anyone tell me if changing a water pump is a DIY fit or would it need special tools as need to change mine as started to leak and think the bearings have gone.this is on a standard 1600 engine on a mk1 golf 1984 cab thanks.  

No special tools needed - search the forums as there are plenty of threads about it. And pre-spray with penetrating fluid the bolts on the pulley and pump every day for a few days before doing the job.

Makes sense to put the thermostat in, and the cover on, the new water pump before installing it on the engine. For some reason they make it so its upside down and its not easy getting the gasket in without pinching it, because it won't stay where it should and falls down.

As above, the bolts are prone to snapping so take extra care to not let them otherwise it becomes a more involved job.

Nothing Special, save for drilling a 1/8 hole in the lip of the t-stat to prevent the "air bubble" from forming.
I do it all from the top. Save for having to take the power steering pump bracket off if installed.

Here is how I do it.
How I change out my Water Pump | Volkswagen Owners Club Forum

I strongly suggest that you remove the housing and then remove the pump from the housing, because if it hasn't been
removed in a while then yours may have corroded bolts, and it doesn't take much to shear a bolt head.  6pt sockets only.
 

Done this on mine a few months ago, nothing complicated just depends on the age and years of corrosion on your bolts etc, my hoses were corroded on so took a fight to get them off, I strongly recommend changing the whole unit rather than attempting to split it from the original housing, hardly any price difference and I didn't fancy snapping all those small bolts taking it apart

thanks guys just bought a new complete unit from GSF  so will be fitting it at the weekend.

Don't forget the 2 o-rings one for the t-stat and one for the pump housing.

Also you may want to take one bolt out at a time on the new pump and place never-seize on the bolt, then retighten it to 9.2nm or 87 in/lbs.

After you get all the bolts never-seized, spray the back side of the bolts with battery anticorrosive spray, this way they will never ever be a beeatch to remove.






No never-seize and a 20 year old pump…. This was one of my spare housings…..I was gonna clean and install my new pump on….. That was a 1/4 drive 10mm socket and a 1/4 ratchet with a short stroke handle, and very little umph.

 

well took the old pump off 34 years old original one! good job i replaced the complete unit as the nut that holds the lower cam belt cover to the water pump snapped off . not a bad job to do if replacing the the complete unit. RECOMMEND REPLACING COMPLETE UNIT! Thanks for all the advice.   

mark boag said

well took the old pump off 34 years old original one! good job i replaced the complete unit as the nut that holds the lower cam belt cover to the water pump snapped off . not a bad job to do if replacing the the complete unit. RECOMMEND REPLACING COMPLETE UNIT! Thanks for all the advice.   

 Good shout getting the whole unit, looks a lot nicer in the bay too!