OEM VW Parts - Discount Volkswagen Parts

Volkswagen VR6 Water Pump

The VR6 water pump is an extremely important part of your VR6. The water pump circulates the coolant through the engine to keep temperatures in a safe operating range. Without the water pump, the engine would overhead with serious damage in a matter of minutes.

In general, changing the water pump is a pretty easy DIY job on most VR6 cars. MK3 Golf / Jetta and Corrado VR6 seems to be the easiest, while the newer Golf / Jetta are somewhat more involved, although basically the same process.

One of the downfalls of the early model VR6 water pumps is the plastic impeller blades. Given enough heat and time, those plastic fins on the VR6 water pump impeller will break off and lodge in the cooling system somewhere. Usually you can find all the broken pieces in the thermostated housing. The replacement VR6 water pump, and those installed on newer cars (from around 1995 and newer) have a metal bladed impeller. No worries there.

All years of VR6 waters pumps can leak, or seize up. Most common is leaking. The water pump will leak out the shaft that the pulley attaches to. We'll get into replacing it in just a second. If your water pump is leaking, or car overheating and you don't know why, you may need a new VR6 water pump.

The procedures for replacing the VR6 water pump are basically as follows. Get a manual to be 100% sure of the specifics for your model.

* Remove the air box (for VR6 with the air box on the passenger side only, on MK4 remove the engine covering on that side.)

* Remove the accessory belt (serpentine belt)

* Loosen the front motor mount

* Loosen the rear motor mount

* With a block of wood and a floor jack, raise the engine until the 3 bolts holding the water pump are visible and the water pump can be pulled out to the space where the air box sits.

* Replace the pump, clean around the seal areas very well.

* Put it all back together.

More details can be found at VW How To

It is extremely important to have a good reliable coolant system on a VR6. Because of the compact nature of the engine, the hot areas are very close together. The VR6 has the potential to run very hot.

For More Information: http://www.vwhowto.com/vwhowto/guide-view.cfm/id/78/