Trusting someone else to change the timing belt and water pump...

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steveo

Well-Known Member
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449
Location
north Surrey
And I end up with a leak, and an aux belt that is becoming damaged!

My 300tdi now warms up very quickly, seems too quick, but doesn't overheat. Yet.

Looking under the bonnet, there is evidence of a coolant leak that wasn't there before, and a mark along the length of the aux belt (smooth side) that is also new. The large pulley that guides the back of the belt has a lovely fresh burr on it, so out with the wet n dry to smooth it off.

The evidence of the leak is wiped off, but I suspect I will be returning it to the garage next week!
 

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I'd keep an eye on the p gasket area to if I were you, seeing stuff like this is one reason why I learned to do stuff myself, that and when I look back at what I've spent in parts the labour charge would have bankrupted me:oops:
 
If I ever find a garage I can trust, to work to even a reasonable standard, then perhaps I can stop doing the work myself.

Back in the real world, I do it all myself. end of.

There have been a few threads on here about the proclivities of garages, and I sometimes get to see the standard of work from the local "mechanics"..... :rolleyes:

Good luck with it, as @Marmaduke says above, keep an eye on that - IME, 300's do not warm up quickly - it may be something as simple as a coincident sender failure, or something more serious
 
That is the one task I would never trust anyone to do for me again. Last time someone completed said task for me, I ended having to take a day off work to do it all over again because the timing was all out of whack. Same as yours, engine started to run a bit hot, on a run, exhaust gas temperatures would get so hot, manifold would get white hot, and fuel consumption was terrible. Turns out the mechanic had retarded the FIP timing too much to the point that undoing the 3 bolts on the wheel in an attempt to increase timing made no difference at all. Took everything apart meself to find the FIP to be off on the belt by about 3 teeth.... No one is every touching me timing again
 
All cleaned off today, checked thermostat and refitted, re-bled coolant. Its not a big leak, but it looks to me like its from the P gasket. It still warms up quicker than before the belt and water pump were done. I can't see any wetness appearing, but why have they used sealant when there was a perfectly good new gasket supplied?

On the up side - it starts a bit better and runs nicely.... for now, until it overheats :)
 
I think, next weekend, I will redo the pump with a new gasket. When I removed the thermostat, there was bits of black gunk in it. My worry buttons are pressed:(
 
I think, next weekend, I will redo the pump with a new gasket. When I removed the thermostat, there was bits of black gunk in it. My worry buttons are pressed:(

I know what you mean - well, I remember, years ago, using a garage to do a job, which they messed up - better to spend the money, your money!, on tools and facilities... IMHO:)
Also IMHO, do it yourself next time, its so much easier not to have to pick up the pieces from someone else's "workmanship":rolleyes:

If you're having the pump orf, then get a p-gasket and new bolts too ( less than a tenner of evil bay), and do the lot as a pre-emptive strike!!
 
What they said.... change hte P-gasket too. It was probably disturbed when the three long bottom bolts were removed from the water pump. Easy job. Just allow yourself 3-4 hours if you're doing it for the first time.
 
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