I have a 1999 Volkswagen Passat and the water pump seems to be leaking. The lower radiator hose has been replaced but it still leaks a fairly substantial amount. From what I can tell the pump is still doing its job but I'm losing coolant. Is there a way I can determine if i just need a new gasket or a new pump altogether without ripping the front end off? Any feedback is appreciated.
Before you go to replace anything, you must find and repair the source of the leak. See radiator pressure test video below:
Replace the pump. While your at it, since the front end (actually the bumper cover) is off, get the timing belt done, with rollers, tensioner, thermostat, and G12 coolant.
The coolant can leak from the hoses, the core or pump. You can detect these external leaks from proper visual inspection (a mechanic) or a pressure test. If it still isn’t found then it’s the head gasket.
ALL VW's require NEW WATER PUMPS, and TIMING BELTS at 100k mile intervals except the VR6! your is either a 2.8 or a 1.8 TURBO engine! ONLY GENUINE VW COOLANT can be used in there! Use the BLAUFERGNUGEN website to purchase the WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT KITS! Or call 1-80-ALL-EURO or 1-800-ALL-AUDI THIS IS NOT A CHEVY CAVALIER! This is a REAL car with special needs! you cannot use VALVOLINE or PRESTONE in this car or you wil RUIN IT FOR YOURSELF! VW/AUDI engines require oil that meet the higher SPEC NUMBERS 502/505 oNLY! This means MOBIL ONE 0W-40 and a handful of others, like AMSOIL< PENTOSIN< the factory fill oil, or TOTAL ENERGY oil from France! PENNZOIL ULTRA EUROPEAN is very hard to find, but EXCEPTIONAL oil! Pennzoil makes the oil for FERRARI and the ULTRA series oil carries a 15 year 500k mile OIL WARRANTY! DO NOT SCRIMP On this car! If the engine overheats or melts inside you will be a VERY SORRY CAMPER :( IF your radiator hose was replaced I have a FELLING that you already used the WRONG COOLANT IN THERE !The factory coolant shoudl nearly last the lifetime of the car! If your hose EXPLODED than check your COOLING FAN SWITCH! WHICH ENGIEN DO YOU HAVE HERE? the TURBO engien is FANTASTIC but if you EVER USED VALVOLINE in it, expect to have melted CRANKCASE VENTILATION hoses and FILTHY throttle body and idle air control valve! HAVE THESE THINGS CLEANED UP! EXPECT to have a TIMNG BELT KIT installed at 100k miles along with a NEW PUMP! Be SURE you are getting a genuine HEPU brand water pump and NOTHING ELSE! These are words of WISDOM! The VW engine is capable of getting to 500k miles and MORE< or just to 120k miles IT IS UP TO YOU TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FLUIDS and ALL VW/AUDI fluids come from PENTOSIN company! VALVOLINE will burn up your turbo and PRESTONE will eat holes in your GASKETS and rot RADIATOR HOSES and cause HEATER CORE LEAKS! GOOD LUCK!!
The pump usually leaks from the center where the shaft comes out to the pulley, it should be replaced. It should be replaced regularly, as the timing belt runs on the water pump pulley, and if the pulley locks it will take out the timing belt and destroy the engine. How many miles on this car? How long since you replaced the timing belt? Probably too long, those should be replaced every 90,000 miles. Things to replace while you are in there: - Timing belt - Timing belt tensioner - Timing belt pulleys - Water pump (with gaskets) - Thermostat There are kits from Autozone and NAPA and such that have most of these parts together.
