[septimus]

Hello, I am new to the forum. And to water cooled engines, really. My previous experience has been with older air cooled vw. So, I've got an '02 tdi Jetta and it's coming up due for it's first timing belt change. Any advice that anyone could offer would be much appreciated. There seems to be a large amount of valuable information here that I will really on pretty heavily. One question I have already though, if anyone cares to weigh in, is; Should I change the water pump at the same time as I do the timing belt? If anyone has any advice on this or anything else, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks,

Stefan

 

[Seatman]

Hi bud,welcometomyturbodies. I've heard it's recomended and I suppose for the relatively low cost it's probably a good idea. I mean if it goes, at the very least you'll have to take the belt off again and at worst it could maybe damage the belt and reck the engine.

 

[chittychittybangbang]

YES. The water pump can fail and like Seatman said, if it fails it's possible it could wreck the engine. Look to the FAQ for the timing belt writeup.