Cambelt Change

[scarface]

Yeah the guy at garage said the engine was very compacted so made it harder to fit.

The water pump was from eurocarparts too, not sure on part number, will check the invoice later.

As an aside, he gave me my old parts back and the cambelt was mint, no wearing, cuts or anything. He said the water pump was a bit worn, but generally all parts were fine.

 

[scarface]

Glad it went well-whereabouts did u get it done in the end?
Did the metal water pump have a part No?
Gotta get mine done soon
Tommy

Got it done from my usual garage, Bayliss, in Langley, up the road from Thimble Mill Baths. If you know the bearwood/langley area.

 

[Xizor]

120K miles OR 4 years in the book, Xixor. You are well past the sell-by date with that cambelt. Every time you fire up the engine you're at risk of losing it.

Phew! I can breath again. Had the belt changed this morning.

Incidentally, the 8 year old belt looked fine to me. The damper was starting to look a bit worn, but not bad. Old water pump had plastic impeller, but also looked OK.

Good tip is to buy the parts online and find an independent specialist to fit them. All in, the job came to around £255. Contitech belt with damper and Circoli metal pump.

Now I can give the car a good workout without the fear of a loud expensive BANG!

Cheers

 

[tommytucker]

Nice one-glad it went well and i think that was a gud price u got. Do u ave a part No for that circoli water pump?
Tommy

 

[Xizor]

Got parts from Carparts4less.co.uk. Thinks it's Eurocarparts online operation.
Just put in your reg number and select the parts you want. Good deals on atm too.

 

[QU4RESMA]

Does it matter whether the parts are the original from SEAT or not?
What i mean is... are the belts for e.g from SEAT more realiable than from somewhere like EuroCarParts??

 

[QU4RESMA]

Does it matter whether the parts are the original from SEAT or not?
What i mean is... are the belts for e.g from SEAT more realiable than from somewhere like EuroCarParts??

Would anyone use this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-8t-Gate...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e78255e9b

 

[Xizor]

Would anyone use this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-8t-Gate...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e78255e9b

Crikey! That's a lot of money just for the belt

 

[SteveRyan]

Got my Cambelt done today with waterpump, tensioning damper and Aux belts £420.00 timing was out a little also.

Bad news was when it was done before the bolt in the engine mount was over tightened and damaged it so needed a replacement.

Also got sump removed and replaced for a new oil strainer pipe.

Just need to replace rocker cover gasket and find the leak in the power steering

 

[johnx14]

But looking at the mileage he has done, I would say wait till 60k miles.

Mines 7 and half years old with 72k miles and not changed yet,

same here, aug 05 car, 72k miles and not changed yet.

 

[Cupra Ross]

Don't use the metal waterpump,
Use an OE type plastic impellor

WHY????

The OE plastic impellor'd water pumps are an absolute disaster. The impellor shears off the shaft and doesn't spin, resulting in no circulation of coolant.

ALWAYS fit a metal impellor type water pump. Do it right, do it once.

Does it matter whether the parts are the original from SEAT or not?
What i mean is... are the belts for e.g from SEAT more realiable than from somewhere like EuroCarParts??

Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda don't make any of the components for your timing belt change. By using OEM parts, you're basically paying for the badge on the box. Contitech, Gates Powergrip, SKF, Meyle etc are excellent aftermarket manufacturers, one of whom will be making the "genuine" SEAT kit anyway.

Go OEM by all means, but you're paying extra and getting no higher quality than aftermarket suppliers at a fraction of the cost.

As for fitting, find a trusted independant or a trusted local garage. Main dealer labour rates are an absolute joke and you generally find some extremely competent mechanics at small independent garages with a good reputation. I use a local garage who charge £35 per hour labour, they've done cylinder head changes on my 4x4s, suspension work, timing belts, you name it. You'll never find me giving a main dealer £100+ per hour for a spotty teenage "technician" to work on my car.

 

[Nam-uk]

WHY????

The OE plastic impellor'd water pumps are an absolute disaster. The impellor shears off the shaft and doesn't spin, resulting in no circulation of coolant.

ALWAYS fit a metal impellor type water pump. Do it right, do it once.

the pump issue was fixed years ago i.e that plastic problem is from 2001 the impellor is made out off PPs now.

Genuine is the way forward, my last pump taken out of my 2005 leon was pps version as well.

 

[Cupra Ross]

the pump issue was fixed years ago i.e that plastic problem is from 2001 the impellor is made out off PPs now.

Genuine is the way forward, my last pump taken out of my 2005 leon was pps version as well.

Explain to me why "genuine is the way forward". I'd like to hear your reasoning.

I've owned 1.8Ts for 13 years now and I'd like to think I know them and treat them better than fitting such garbage to them.

 

[Xizor]

WHY????

Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda don't make any of the components for your timing belt change. By using OEM parts, you're basically paying for the badge on the box. Contitech, Gates Powergrip, SKF, Meyle etc are excellent aftermarket manufacturers, one of whom will be making the "genuine" SEAT kit anyway.

Was looking at my old belt yesterday, which was a genuine Audi OEM item. Discovered it was made by Gates! Just to prove Cupra Ross's point.

 

[Nam-uk]

Explain to me why "genuine is the way forward". I'd like to hear your reasoning.

I've owned 1.8Ts for 13 years now and I'd like to think I know them and treat them better than fitting such garbage to them.

no need to just google about the pump issue there is a vid even ask seat, and when you take the pump out it says pps on the side of the impeller,
but it is up to you if you want to use after market gear, only part i went aftermarket was a full gates kit with ini tensioner ect.

 

[Cupra Ross]

no need to just google about the pump issue there is a vid even ask seat, and when you take the pump out it says pps on the side of the impeller,
but it is up to you if you want to use after market gear, only part i went aftermarket was a full gates kit with ini tensioner ect.

You pays your money and makes your choice. If you want to use a plastic pump that's your decision. If you care about your car, I'd recommend against using a plastic impeller water pump in the strongest possible terms. The plastic has to be bonded to a metal shaft, an inherently weaker arrangement than a metal impeller on a metal shaft.

 

[MJ]

Explain to me why "genuine is the way forward". I'd like to hear your reasoning.

I've owned 1.8Ts for 13 years now and I'd like to think I know them and treat them better than fitting such garbage to them.

I used to fit nothing but metal impeller pumps then we had one fail resulting an unreparable block and swarf all through the cooling system.

Genuine pumps carry a 2 year warranty that also covers any subsequent engine damage caused by a faulty pump, most aftermarket pumps only warrant the part itself.

The plastic polymer material used in modern VAG water pumps is far superior to the older type so you never see the same issue like in the past.

So really if you want to fit the "best" and most supported/backed up part and protect your customers or personal best interests then genuine is the answer.

 

[Nam-uk]

You pays your money and makes your choice. If you want to use a plastic pump that's your decision. If you care about your car, I'd recommend against using a plastic impeller water pump in the strongest possible terms. The plastic has to be bonded to a metal shaft, an inherently weaker arrangement than a metal impeller on a metal shaft.

i do care one reason i looked into this so called plastic pump issue but it turns out the plastic impeller was swapped years ago to pps also the flow rates v metal are different, and it is not just seat that use this material as it is audi owned now which even own Bentley were i also asked the same question.

 

[Harris.]

I used to fit nothing but metal impeller pumps then we had one fail resulting an unreparable block and swarf all through the cooling system.

Genuine pumps carry a 2 year warranty that also covers any subsequent engine damage caused by a faulty pump, most aftermarket pumps only warrant the part itself.

The plastic polymer material used in modern VAG water pumps is far superior to the older type so you never see the same issue like in the past.

So really if you want to fit the "best" and most supported/backed up part and protect your customers or personal best interests then genuine is the answer.

Exactly this.

I don't think I've seen a plastic impeller one fail since they have been modified,however have seen a case of a metal one giving up but not causing as much damage as above.

My own car is due a new belt the end of this year and I'm currently running a metal impeller but will be going back to genuine plastic.

 

[BoostHard]

So what year was the upgraded water pumps released and once an upgraded OEM pump
has been fitted does it still need changing when the belt and tensioner is done?