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Does VW make a metal impeller waterpump?

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03MKIV

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
From searching, it's quite apparant you don't want to install a plastic impeller waterpump (which was a terrible idea to start with).
I picked up all the parts today and didn't think to check as I thought all the newer pumps had metal impellers, but once I got home I saw it is indeed plastic. Does VW actually make a metal impeller waterpump, or do you have to get an aftermarket pump?
I'll call them tomorrow, but thought someone here would likely know off hand.
 
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#4 ·
FV-QR

I believe the metal impeller is aftermarket and that VW does not make one.
Quote, originally posted by 03MKIV »
(which was a terrible idea to start with).

It was plastic so if your coolant actually froze, you'd just break the impeller instead of messing up your timing and killing your engine. I don't think they designed it with intentions to break.
 
#7 ·
Re: Does VW make a metal impeller waterpump? (03MKIV)

Quote, originally posted by 03MKIV »
Does VW actually make a metal impeller waterpump, or do you have to get an aftermarket pump?

Yes, there are OEM metal impeller H20-pumps available; there's part numbers to prove such.
However the aftermarket / or replacement-OE stuff is usually cheaper, but just ask great.
- Erik
 
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Discussion starter · #8 ·
Re: Does VW make a metal impeller waterpump? (bluefox280)

Thanks for the replies guys - I'll ask to exchange it if they have a metal impeller waterpump in stock. If not, I guess the first one lasted 150K km so it can't be that bad (won't know for sure until I see it though).
I was going to get all aftermarket parts, but decided to stick with OEM since the pricing is reasonable, and to be honest, I want to make sure these parts last due to the inconvenience of changing a bad waterpump a year from now just to save a few bucks. I know there are some good brands out there, but most aftermarket stuff at parts stores these days seem to be cheap chinese junk.
I can understand the thought of the impeller breaking if your coolant freezes, but it's much more common/likely for the impeller to break on it's own than the off chance your coolant mixture is bad enough to cause freezing (which would human error when filling anyways).
 
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Discussion starter · #11 ·
Re: FV-QR (FlyBy)

Just got off the phone with them and apparently it is a metal impeller. It looks and feels like plastic to the touch, but when you flick it with your fingernail it does have a metallic "clink" sound.
It's not magnetic either, so it must be an alloy of some sort.
Anyways, for future reference, the PN on the impeller itself is 045 121 021A and the waterpump PN on the box is 06A 121 012 X
Image


PS Forgot to ask the dealer - what's the warranty like on VW parts?


Modified by 03MKIV at 10:33 AM 11-6-2009
 
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#12 ·
Re: Does VW make a metal impeller waterpump? (03MKIV)

Correction from my VW friend who works at a dealer and helps with sutff with my car,
he said VW is now using Aluminum Impeller water pumps now.
 
#13 ·
Re: Does VW make a metal impeller waterpump? (03MKIV)

Quote, originally posted by 03MKIV »
.....(which was a terrible idea to start with).

There are a lot of engineering considerations with any design. I am sure the Engineering Design Team considered all possibilities when choosing a polymeric impeller.
My 10 year old GTI still has it's perfectly functional original OEM pump.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Re: Does VW make a metal impeller waterpump? (GTINC)

Thanks for confirming bwalzywolfsburg - aluminum would make sense - just odd how it's black.
Quote, originally posted by GTINC »

There are a lot of engineering considerations with any design. I am sure the Engineering Design Team considered all possibilities when choosing a polymeric impeller.
My 10 year old GTI still has it's perfectly functional original OEM pump.

There are always plenty of considerations with any design, but engineers make mistakes, and sometimes their hands are tied. When it comes down to it, there are design flaws with nearly everything and anything that's ever been built.
It was likely done this way originally to save a few bucks and they've realized it was a mistake (due to premature failures) if they've changed the design on the replacement pumps. I've also had good luck as our 2003 2.0 has 150,000km on it, but others have had a lot of problems with the plastic impellers so it isn't an ideal design.
Kudos to VW for addressing and correcting the problem rather than pumping out the same problematic part.


Modified by 03MKIV at 10:47 AM 11-6-2009
 
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#16 ·
Re: FV-QR (dxstrxy)

From what I heard a couple of weeks ago when my water pump went at 55k, VW had updated the design, but the impeller was still plastic. Instead of having it replaced under warranty with another plastic impeller, I bought the timing belt kit from HS Tuning with the metal impeller and had it replaced elsewhere. I wish I would have known the OEM pumps used a metal impeller now. It would have saved me a lot of money.
Image

Using plastic in the original design was a terrible idea. I would have gladly paid an extra $15 (or whatever the cost difference is between plastic and metal) for the car if they used a metal impeller from the start.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Re: FV-QR (JettaGetUpandGo)

FWIW, the original waterpump looked great with no deterioration in the plastic impeller. It had 150K km on it.
 
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03MKIV
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