96 Passatt TDI 147,000 miles the pump bearing failed.
I changed the water pump and refilled with coolant and had a leak even before I started the car. Disassembled again changed the pump gasket and refilled the system with coolant before starting the engine and putting all of the other parts back together, still had a leak! Removed alternator, a/c compressor, and bracket for them. Removed water pump housing and found that when the impeller cocked in the housing it had thinned the casting in the bell mouth so thin that it cracked. See the attached photo. Reinstalled new pump housing assembly and everything is back to normal again.
Well guess you won't get a picture, as I can't figure out how to attach one.
I changed the water pump and refilled with coolant and had a leak even before I started the car. Disassembled again changed the pump gasket and refilled the system with coolant before starting the engine and putting all of the other parts back together, still had a leak! Removed alternator, a/c compressor, and bracket for them. Removed water pump housing and found that when the impeller cocked in the housing it had thinned the casting in the bell mouth so thin that it cracked. See the attached photo. Reinstalled new pump housing assembly and everything is back to normal again.
Well guess you won't get a picture, as I can't figure out how to attach one.
