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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Wayne.R on 06 February 2025, 19:19
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Hey,
So my 1st experience into Mk7 ownership, has just taken a dip.
Got home from work this morning, and noticed steam coming from the engine bay.
Opened the bonnet, and could smell the sweet aroma of coolant. Coupled with a wetness on the splash guard under the thermostat.
Header tank seemed ok, with no loss of coolant visible.
Now need to get it looked at, after telling my dealer about the issue.
I have the standard 3 month used car warranty, so who knows what that covers.
Yes, it's a known weak point with the engine, but I've only done 600 miles in it... Lol.
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That's a shame, most be very annoying. But, better it happened straight away and be covered than it going a few days past the 3 month warranty. That's the thing with a used car, they can and will go wrong.
Hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction so you can get on and enjoy it :smiley:
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If the warranty does not cover it do not use the Dealer to get it repaired use a decent independent and you will save a fortune.
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All the circumstances described would make me suspicious that the previous owner might have suspected leak and moved the car on.
My son’s elderly Audi A3 bought from Arnold Clark had a badly corroded radiator which the previous owner had patched up. Within a couple of weeks it was leaking. Arnold Clark used car guarantee immediately and without quibble, priority ordered and fitted a new radiator. Must have cost them several hundred pounds.
The lesson? Absolutely, your used car warranty should cover this as indeed your rights as a purchaser should, with or without a warranty.
Do not stand for any attempts to fob you off.
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So my dealer has insisted on getting the car looked at, at an Halfords Auto centre of all places.
Reluctantly, I've done this for Monday morning, purely to ascertain a quote for work.
I've gone to my 2 VW independents, who have separately quoted £870-£874 for the swap out.
I can do it myself, within a day, because unless it's at a specialist, I wouldn't trust a 'normal' garage to do the job correctly.
I have full VCDS so can prep the pump once changed, if have to do it myself, because Halfords are not getting my car to work on.
In the meantime, I have no car I can safely use!
@P6GTD you may well be right. Any time you purchase a used car, I always wonder why it's been moved on.
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You can safely use it, I was topping mine up every month for months before I had it done. They do not just let go. Unless you have a serious leak and filling the header often use it as normal and keep an eye on it.
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Can I ask, as you haven’t said, what have they quotes to replace?
So my dealer has insisted on getting the car looked at, at an Halfords Auto centre of all places.
Reluctantly, I've done this for Monday morning, purely to ascertain a quote for work.
I've gone to my 2 VW independents, who have separately quoted £870-£874 for the swap out.
I can do it myself, within a day, because unless it's at a specialist, I wouldn't trust a 'normal' garage to do the job correctly.
I have full VCDS so can prep the pump once changed, if have to do it myself, because Halfords are not getting my car to work on.
In the meantime, I have no car I can safely use!
@P6GTD you may well be right. Any time you purchase a used car, I always wonder why it's been moved on.
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Sorry, for the late reply...
The quotes are for replacement water pump, thermostat, belt, and water grommet, inclusive of VAT and Labour.
So update...
Car went into Halfords on Monday morning. They had it all day. Picked it up at 530pm and the 'technician' said...."Nothing wrong with it fella, ran it up, everything is dry, but your car drives really well"
Got it back, vehicle is in Sport, so know how it's been driven.
Found this odd, so the next day, i put it up on my ramps, and took the undertray off. Instantly covered in the coolant, they said wasn't there. Sump is wet, hoses are wet, and bolts around the sump, have pink crust.
Hmm...Dunno what car Halfords looked at then.
Dried it off, ran it up to try & replicate the leak, and nothing could be found or seen.
Took it to work, and water is back on the undertray.
So, it's going to Power Developments in Essex next week, to be investigated, and I'll sort it myself, once I have the download on what the fault is.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NjthkxmV/20250211-104322.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8jZn1MyB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gcLf97KQ/20250211-104335.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/nMZdB0gG)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4ycMzKds/20250211-104358.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/n9H0xhBP)
Thanks Finglonga...I'll be doing exactly that. Only losing maybe 10mm of water at a time. Hoping it's a tiny pipe weep. But will probably do the full swap out, for preventative maintenance anyway.
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I wouldn’t trust Halfords with changing a push bike tyre, let alone my Golf.
Good call to go to a specialist.
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I wouldn’t trust Halfords with changing a push bike tyre, let alone my Golf.
Good call to go to a specialist.
Wasn't my decision mate. My dealer insisted on me taking it there. Warranty claim thing.
Like you, I wouldn't trust them to change an air freshener.
I've always used specialists near me. These VAG cars will bite you hard, if not maintained
Dealer has believed Halfords, and has refused to let me obtain a 2nd opinion.....Ya know what, f@@k it, it's easier for me to fix it myself.
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Glad to hear your positivity despite the provocation. They are such good cars and once you are past this I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
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Glad to hear your positivity despite the provocation. They are such good cars and once you are past this I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Thanks mate. I'm too long in the tooth to get aggy over something out of my control. I know I can fix it, I just need the time and parts and like you say, i'll be out to enjoy it fully, and get this remap done....
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Nice one
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Presuming this is NOT a VW Dealer. Personally I would take it to a VW Dealer for "Diagnosis only" then take the result to the selling dealer you purchased it from along with the invoice for the Diagnosis for them to reimburse you.
It is a big hit to take when they should cover a defective vehicle.
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This is none of my business really but I suspect some sort of collusion between the garage supplying the car and the guy at Halfords.
And……maybe Halfords as an organisation might be interested in what’s going on as well. I would be raising a complaint with their HO.
Your experience is so out of line with what should be expected from a bona fide VW dealer with their own workshop.
I hope your problems are sorted soon leaving you to enjoy what is a great car.
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Hey all,
Update....
Had my car into my VW specialist this morning, for a 2nd opinion, given my first opinion was forced upon me... Anyway, as suspected the Water pump is toast.
So now need a new assembly, with thermostat/pump & belt...
Can anyone advise or offer where to go, for OEM please.
I've found these, which seem good. I have used INA stuff before and it's never let me down. Difference in price though of around £50 after you add on the VAT for the Spyder one.
https://www.aemotorsport.co.uk/shop/genuine-ina-oem-water-pump-thermostat-with-housing-for-volkswagen-golf-mk7-mk7-5-gti-r/
https://www.spyderperformance.com/shop/cooling/waterpumps/ina-vw-golf-mk7-mk7-5-gti-r-audi-s1-audi-s3-seat-cupra-water-pump-with-thermostat-housing-538036010/?srsltid=AfmBOoqDlEjtnhaP_Sj6vRA3CqbD9jxAnuAzfWYqRfMWJpFtyKfrGpUx
I got a qoute of £880 from the lads who looked at it, and so went to my dealer today. Explained the issue, the diagnosis and the ultimate cost.
There was a pause, and then said, "Sorry wayne, you warranty only covers full engine or gearbox failure. I can't fix it under warranty, but would offer to repair it, but it won't be genuine stuff. It'll be whatever can be sourced"
I argued this point, labouring it's a performance car, and I'm not having chinese knock off, ebay parts fitted to my car, only to fail months later.
I then gave another view of, buy me the part i want, and i'll fit it, signing any indemnity absolving him of any faults assosciated with a failure owing to my part fitting.
He said no.
So, F&&k it, I'll sort it myself, knowing what is going into my engine and having been done properly too.
So can anyone offer a kit to buy or a company to buy from?
Genuine VW is super expensive....
Cheers
W.
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VW specialist that uses genuine VW parts is my advice.
VW original parts are expensive but worth it. Cheap Chinese/Origin not specified copies are available, often at half the price - for a reason.
I have made this mistake a few times and now will only have genuine VW parts fitted.
I had the water pump replaced a few years ago with VW parts which have been upgraded and improved from first build. No issues since.
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Afternoon all. My waterpump kit arrives today, and I plan on doing the swap out, this weekend.
I've been and bought genuine coolant from VW and a host of other bits, such as a coolant filler funnel etc.
For those who have done this themselves, how many swapped out the belt too? It looks to be a real PITA to get to and get off, not to mention being reverse threaded and having to hold the crank.
Putting the bolt back in is even worse, so it looks.
My view is, if the current one looks good with no frays, tears or damage, I'm inclined to leave well alone.
But, does anyone have any tried and tested tips, If I do have to tackle that part?
Cheers
W.
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Not able to answer your query but thought I’d let you know that you’re not the only one with an issue not long after taking ownership. Had the car for 3 weeks and noticed the coolant level had dropped. The car is due to go back for some paint issues anyway so they said they’d look. Fingers crossed they replace it.
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I am all for buying genuine parts but, let's face it, the genuine housing is renowned for failing / being crap...
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So, last weekend I swapped out the water pump, removing the manifold which also had the injector rail on it too, which I didn't expect.
Very very fiddly and trying to get onto the belt cover lower bolt, was a proper challenge.
Thank the lord for 1/4 ratchet and bits lol
Because the pipes had never been off before, they had taken on the shape of the clamp making them difficult to remove too.
However, after 5 hours of fighting it, the new pump was on and bolted up.
Then I ran out of light.
Next day, checked for leaks and put everything back and got ready to start.
£40 on VW coolant and my burp funnel and the air coming out was like a volcano erupting.
45 minutes later of holding the engine at 3000rpm and heater on max it was pretty much done.
Fast forward a week and all seems fine and no loss of fluid or wet patches.
Not something I wanna do again quickly though.
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When I had mine done under All In warranty last year it took the VW dealer tech 5hrs plus in the workshop.
I was told “it was a real struggle to do” so respect to anyone who manages this on their own.
Got me wondering…is this a problem only for GTIs or are Rs and GTDs affected as well?
And… is it a problem on lesser Golf’s??
And finally, why on earth had the factory not found a fix at the build stage years and years ago?
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When I had mine done under All In warranty last year it took the VW dealer tech 5hrs plus in the workshop.
I was told “it was a real struggle to do” so respect to anyone who manages this on their own.
Got me wondering…is this a problem only for GTIs or are Rs and GTDs affected as well?
And… is it a problem on lesser Golf’s??
And finally, why on earth had the factory not found a fix at the build stage years and years ago?
It’s definitely an issue on the mk7 and mk7.5 R; quite a few mk7 / mk7.5 owners over on the Golf R forum have had water pump failures. Can’t recall reading of any mk8 R’s that have suffered the same issue, so maybe VW have improved the quality and design of the water pump / thermostat housing.
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I think it is a very poor design from VW. Heard that over in the US, they have billet aluminium ones from aftermarket companies.
Don't know if this is true or even if they're any more robust over standard ones.
The one off my car, showed no easily visible signs of where it was leaking from, other than a slight rusting around the top left bolt hole, by the gasket.
I'm guessing the gasket failed on mine, rather than a crack or the coupling between the pump and the thermostat.
Had to rotate the crank too, to walk the belt onto the pump. Needed 2 people to do this. It's not easy.
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I think it is a very poor design from VW. Heard that over in the US, they have billet aluminium ones from aftermarket companies.
Don't know if this is true or even if they're any more robust over standard ones.
The one off my car, showed no easily visible signs of where it was leaking from, other than a slight rusting around the top left bolt hole, by the gasket.
I'm guessing the gasket failed on mine, rather than a crack or the coupling between the pump and the thermostat.
Had to rotate the crank too, to walk the belt onto the pump. Needed 2 people to do this. It's not easy.
Cracking effort Wayne, top job!
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I think it is a very poor design from VW. Heard that over in the US, they have billet aluminium ones from aftermarket companies.
Don't know if this is true or even if they're any more robust over standard ones.
The one off my car, showed no easily visible signs of where it was leaking from, other than a slight rusting around the top left bolt hole, by the gasket.
I'm guessing the gasket failed on mine, rather than a crack or the coupling between the pump and the thermostat.
Had to rotate the crank too, to walk the belt onto the pump. Needed 2 people to do this. It's not easy.
Cracking effort Wayne, top job!
Thanks mate.....Now onto the next jobs to get it where I want it.....
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So, last weekend I swapped out the water pump, removing the manifold which also had the injector rail on it too, which I didn't expect.
Very very fiddly and trying to get onto the belt cover lower bolt, was a proper challenge.
Thank the lord for 1/4 ratchet and bits lol
Because the pipes had never been off before, they had taken on the shape of the clamp making them difficult to remove too.
However, after 5 hours of fighting it, the new pump was on and bolted up.
Then I ran out of light.
Next day, checked for leaks and put everything back and got ready to start.
£40 on VW coolant and my burp funnel and the air coming out was like a volcano erupting.
45 minutes later of holding the engine at 3000rpm and heater on max it was pretty much done.
Fast forward a week and all seems fine and no loss of fluid or wet patches.
Not something I wanna do again quickly though.
Great to see someone else replacing their failed water pump and thermostat. I did mine just over 12 months ago using VAG genuine parts, which were really expensive but saved money overall.
How was the carbon build up on your valves?
I opted for the semi-blind route taking off the radiator cooling fan and the throttle body and pipe work. Bought a number of quarter inch extensions and a few mirrors to get better visibility.Took around the same time as you and found bleeding was a doddle, after reading a number of horror stories online.
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Carbon build up on the manifold flaps was minor. On the valves there was some present, but didn't have the time or the desire to wanna tackle it.
I did consider the radiator removal option, but ease of access was my concern, and being a first timer with this install, i wanted the maximum access choice.
I'm a big fan of stuff made by INA where possible. They've always been good quality if OE is too expensive, which lets face it, is the norm lol.