[200q20v] Water Pump??

[QSHIPQ at aol.com]

Water pumps on audis I5's don't seize, before they do, the front bearing 
fails and leaks fluid everywhere.  If it did seize, you can say goodbye to 
your timing belt (valvetrain/pistons) within a minute.  IME with the O-rings, 
if you reuse an old one (or many times try to adjust the belt with a old 
pump) they'll leak.  I always make sure to clean the engine surface around 
the pump, that is a big problem on new installs that leak.

v8 water pumps aren't tooth driven (they drive off the back of the timing 
belt by friction), and *do* seize on occasion, btst.

I totally agree with *all* TB/WP R&R should be done in unison, regardless of 
miles on the 'other' part on the I5.  On the v8, tho, there is a lot more 
time involved because the pump is held in with torx bolts, that strip heads 
when exposed to the elements, btdt.  The v8 WP is also held in behind the 
timing belt tensioning hardware, which is also a bigger job to remove, and 
the gasket is of the paper type, which means a lot of cleaning of the mating 
surfaces is required.  I still advise it on the v8, it's just not quite as 
simple as "while I'm there" in terms of time.

Idler pulleys?  Hmm, I don't do them regularly unless it's not sounding good. 
IME with idler pulleys is that they fail usually do to overtightening of the 
TB sometime in it's lifetime.  The easy ck for that is to remove and inspect 
number 1 cam journal.  An overtightened belt will show lots of grooves in the 
journal, then the Idler pulley is a given.

HTH

Scott Justusson
QSHIPQ Performance Tuning
Chicago
'87 5ktqw
'84 RS2URQ
'83 Urq
In a message dated 11/19/00 4:28:00 AM Central Standard Time, 
r at cm183316-a.ftwrth1.tx.home.com writes:

> 
>  I have had water pumps go bad.  Never seize, but leak, and it wasn't the 
>  o-ring either.
>  
>  So let me get this straight.  To change the belt or water pump you have 
>  to take the grille off, the belts off, the cover, the IC, etc.  Why 
>  would you risk a $1500.00 plus repair bill for NOT changing the water 
>  pump and idler along with the belt?
>  
>  rich
>  
>  Mike Miller wrote:
>  
>  > ----- Original Message -----
>  > From: "Kneale Brownson" <knotnook at traverse.com>
>  > 
>  > 
>  > : I believe they usually leak before seizing, but if it does seize,  
it'll
>  > : take out the belt.  If you decide to replace the pump, replace the 
idler
>  > : too.  I'd even replace the belt while there.
>  > 
>  > What leaked on mine was the water pump O ring - Seattle dealer told me 
the
>  > pump rarely fails, it's usually a $1.50 O ring.
>  > 
>  > Tracy,
>  > Good to see another Montana 91 200. I'm near Helmville.
>  > 
>  > mike miller
>  >