RS coolant leak at waterpump

**WDF** · 26-07-2019, 02:01 PM

2016 RS in for 60k service with reputable German specialist and just got a call that I have a coolant leak at the waterpump. Advised that I could make warranty claim else cost is $1600-$1800 to replace.

Anyone else had similar experience and/or made successful warranty claim with this? Needless to say way too early for this to be happening.

Will get more detail when I pick up the car.

Cheers guys!

**Hillbilly** · 26-07-2019, 02:33 PM

Are you asking for advice or just telling us whats happened It should be a warranty job.

**WDF** · 26-07-2019, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

Are you asking for advice or just telling us whats happened It should be a warranty job.

"Anyone else had similar experience and/or made successful warranty claim with this?"

**Hillbilly** · 26-07-2019, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by WDF

"Anyone else had similar experience and/or made successful warranty claim with this?"

As water pumps are supposed to last at least until its belt change time (7years or 105k) I would expect that they would replace under warranty ,if you car is still under warranty that is and even then its a bit early to crap itself

**WDF** · 26-07-2019, 03:01 PM

Thank you mate, it's still under the 5 year warranty thank goodness.

**k_rider** · 27-07-2019, 10:11 PM

Yep, had same problem with my car. Popped up a low coolant level warning back in January, car was due for its 3 year service in early May, so just kept an eye on the coolant level and topped up with about 250 ml of distilled water every six weeks or so. A leak was found around the thermostat at the service and booked in to have it sorted a couple of weeks later. I can't remember the details of what was replaced (and don't have easy access to the paperwork atm), but I think thermostat housing and I thought they said waterpump as well (but I'd need to verify this). Anyway, all fixed under warranty.

**Spinifex** · 28-07-2019, 07:18 PM

I had a waterpump/oil cooler failure when my car was 2 weeks old. Yes, 2 weeks!!!

Replaced/repaired under warranty.

Yours is definitely another warranty case, as mentioned above.
DON'T go paying any money to fix this, and DON'T take it to anyone other than the dealer.
Yes, non-dealers can do warranty claims, but it's hit and miss and you're just better off letting a dealership handle it, since they do this day in day out.

**brad** · 29-07-2019, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by WDF

2016 RS in for 60k service with reputable German specialist and just got a call that I have a coolant leak at the waterpump. Advised that I could make warranty claim else cost is $1600-$1800 to replace.

Anyone else had similar experience and/or made successful warranty claim with this? Needless to say way too early for this to be happening.

Will get more detail when I pick up the car.

Cheers guys!

$1600 is nuts

If it's within warranty then it's a warranty claim.

If you intend to pay then the water pump & housing are ~$600 from VW, $400 from other sources (SkodaParts NZ or one of the USA VW speciaalists) or $150 off eBay.

The job takes 3 hours if the take off the manifold or a lot less (1.5hrs?) if the person knows how to do it without removing the manifold.

It will need new coolant as well ($60)

My first pump at 85k cost me $1250 including a cursory inlet decarbonisation.

The 2nd pump at 155k cost me me $125 off Ebay and I DIY'd the job and it wasn't hugely difficult.

**DETROITCANDY** · 10-09-2019, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by brad

$1600 is nuts

If it's within warranty then it's a warranty claim.

If you intend to pay then the water pump & housing are ~$600 from VW, $400 from other sources (SkodaParts NZ or one of the USA VW speciaalists) or $150 off eBay.

The job takes 3 hours if the take off the manifold or a lot less (1.5hrs?) if the person knows how to do it without removing the manifold.

It will need new coolant as well ($60)

My first pump at 85k cost me $1250 including a cursory inlet decarbonisation.

The 2nd pump at 155k cost me me $125 off Ebay and I DIY'd the job and it wasn't hugely difficult.

Old post but I'd thought I'd add my experience for the record:

Had mine done twice before 50K service.
First attempt at replacing the water pump under warranty created a bigger leak than then first one. I drove around topping up coolant every time I stopped the car for two weeks before the incompetent muppets at the dealership could have a second go.

I had telltale signs of leak very early on it the life of the car but it never left a 'wet spot' in the garage.
I never joined the dots to diagnose the problem earlier until it really let go in the middle of summer.
I'd read things online about people saying it was normal to top up with coolant early on in the cars life. Any seeping of the coolant must have evaporated the water and the sticky coolant must have temporarily sealed the leak.

Definitely hit up your dealership even if out of warranty. It is a known fault in the water pump housing and you can always argue if you've had to top up coolant within the warranty period that the leak was probably there and not spotted by the service department. (Mine was in for service only 2 weeks before it let go the first time, there defiantly would have been signs if they bothered to look).