Part 1 of 6 Coolant leak and replacing water pump and thermostat on '15 VW golf gti mk7 mkvii

Not too professional, but hopefully this video will help you decide weather to tackle the job yourself or pay someone to do it; it's really not that bad, it took me a full day.

[@AhmadAli-du2fq]

Thank you for posting this I don't know what the problem for my car is but it's loosing coolant and seeing a little smoke from the radiator. I dont know if it's left over water burning out from the drain I tried or if it's really leaking somewhere.

[@amateurism1]

Our gti had a slight leak in the radiator since it was purchased new, the dealer never agreed with us that it was leaking, it’s still leaking, but it’s never gotten bad, I see no steam, I can only smell coolant coming from the radiator.

[@josemontano7767]

I think I’ll just trade my VW in instead of fixing the water pump.

[@derekjlight]

My dealership pressure tested my GTI today and said the thermostat housing is leaking. They did not say that the water pump would be replaced. Is it still worth having the repair done? Seems they should both be replaced.

[@amateurism1]

I’ve been lazy and haven’t put video 6 of 6 up, my thermostat was the part that was leaking (gasket of the thermostat where it meets the engine block or head, I forget where it bolts too). I’m convinced that the leak would have never gotten really bad in hind sight, but the friggin coolant for this car is 25 bucks a gallon, so it was pretty expensive to let it leak forever. It’s up to you on your course of action, I don’t want to sway you one way or the other. Good luck!

[@amateurism1]

Video 6 is up!

[@alanw5812]

don't know why so many people remove so many parts to do this job, I only need remove throttle body to remove the pump,and some people remove the gear to replace the belt,don't need to remove the gear too,it about 2 hours job.

[@yazuo6964]

Is it normal to have coolant leak after replacing water pump and thermostat?

[@bcochnov10]

What was your mileage when you had to replace it. I'm currently at 34K miles (2016). Dealer stated it was the thermostat housing. Interestingly enough, the water pump is covered on my warrant, but the thermostat housing isn't--at least that's what the dealer is saying--seems like they're splitting hairs. If it's not covered I'll give auth VW mechanic the $800 for parts and labor.

[@amateurism1]

bcochnov10 The car at a very early age started to leak coolant, you could smell it, but the dealer said it wasn't leaking (BS), our thermostat and pump was changed with around 80k miles, but it was leaking much earlier than that, we just got sick of paying for the expensive coolant to keep the system full, that drove us to change it. Watch video 6, you'll see where is was leaking and the thermostat you may need/want to replace. If they make an aftermarket thermostat, I'd try it, it can't be worse than the POS VW makes, but I doubt they will, it's a very complicated item. Good luck.

[@eonr2499]

Stephen Toth my VW Alltrack is leaking coolant. Took it to the VW dealership and they couldn’t find the leak. I went home and saw it leaking slowly from the water pump/ thermostat assembly underneath the car. I was charged a diagnostic fee even though they couldn’t find anything. I’m taking it back tomorrow.

[@clint1285]

or u can do like me and fill it up with water every morning

[@tonyvu2011]

@@clint1285 that's dangereous as you'll end up with just water with lower boiling point and potential damage from the steam. Just replace with aluminium water pump, I did a DIY job with parts from shopDap, under $300 with new belt for the pump, the little hose that goes to oil cooler, seal kits for injectors (as manifold was removed). The pump was made by Graf, very high quality.

[@tonyvu2011]

@@clint1285 The irony is that Graf (based in Italy) is an OEM manufacturer for VW, who also makes the OEM plastic pump. The price is the same, a German friend who works for VW told me, it's not about cost for VW to go for plastic but certain EU requirement to have some % of components made by recycled composite material, a fanciful word for plastic 😅

[@bosco0991]

Great vid. Whys your dog wearing a diaper man?

[@amateurism1]

Oh man, that dog cannot be potty trained, I ask that you all accept the mystery.

[@bosco0991]

Stephen Toth lol. Very well

[@2000kcny]

Do you know the part number for the o rings that goes from the thermostat housing to the engine oil cooler? Or the coupling comes with the two o rings?

[@amateurism1]

The coupler I bought from vw came with them; that was actually the hardest part of the job lol, the coupler kept popping out of where it needed to go, had to get the wife to hold it in there as I moved the thermostat to the motor.

[@2000kcny]

You mentioned in your other video that you need t30 bit and 7mm box wrench. Do you recall if triple square is require? If so what size thanks!

[@amateurism1]

2000kcny no triple square was needed, I have a set of those so I know what you are referring to

[@denniscarparts2294]

TOO MUCH TALKING

[@amateurism1]

Figure it out yourself then, why watch me?

[@denniscarparts2294]

😂😂😂 bro I finished the job before your video stop playing 😂😂😂

[@leshenits1929]

Got dizzy watching the video with all the shaking going on. You need to slow down and hold the camera steady. But thanks anyway.