Cooland issue, water pump repair

[dachmt]

My 2003 A4 on Saturday let me down, the coolant signal turned on and I stopped the car right away. I refilled with water the coolant as I was in the middle of the mountains, 15 miles away from the closest town, so I drove there with my coolant tank full. I stopped at a gas station, and no more coolant... In 10 minutes. And a light smoke because of that.

So after more than a day stuck (I'm in South Lake Tahoe, CA and there are no garage doing Audi except one, and they are close and Sat and Sun), the car went to the garage this morning. Diagnostic, the water pump, not the radiator hose like I was hoping. The girl at the shop told me that it's time for my timing belt too, and that she won't repair just the water pump, it's both or nothing (I asked to repair only what's needed just to be able to come back to San Francisco and go to my mechanic). Total costs, $1450. She said it's risky because the timing belt got a bit damage or something, not sure, so it's not "the right way" to just change the water pump, and won't do it if not both.

My ski trip is just being a nightmare, and I was wondering if it's justified to not just change the water pump? But forcing me changing both. I feel like they are trying to charge me as much as they can and I don't know what to do, because I can't really do anything anyway. There are no other garage I can bring the car to, I can't tow the car from Tahoe to San Francisco either, so I'm stuck.

Could you guys let me know what you would do in that situation, and if there is any relation between timing belt and water pump.
I could try then talking to them but I'm sure I won't get anything, they know I'm stuck and have no other options, less expensive.

Thank you,

[evo_ski]

Unfortunately the water pump going out pretty much = a full timing belt service. To replace the pump they have to take the timing belt off, so that is the only way to take care of it. Definitely a bummer to happen to you while you were on a trip though. That price sounds reasonable for timing service.

[dachmt]

Unfortunately the water pump going out pretty much = a full timing belt service. To replace the pump they have to take the timing belt off, so that is the only way to take care of it. Definitely a bummer to happen to you while you were on a trip though. That price sounds reasonable for timing service.

Ok, that's pretty much what she told me. Thanks for the info.

[refueler]

I agree my water pump damaged my timing belt when it decided to crap out, and you do have to remove the timing belt to replace the water pump. Because the timing belt is what drives the pump once you remove the belt keep going and replace everything. The parts are $300 to $400 so that's probably about the going rate for some one to replace the belt and pump. good luck getting home

[wolfdog]

You have to take the front end off and the timing belt in order to change the water pump - so why change the water pump and not put a new belt on? I had the same exact problem. Couldn't make it 20 miles without having to fill up the coolant reservoir with distilled water. Changed it out with my girlfriend.

$1450 is too expensive in my opinion, though. Parts retail via ECS tuning are $300 at most (timing belt kit). I believe Audi specs it at an 8 hour job s at $100/hr brings a total of $1100. They are charging you too much and I doubt they have the parts around to do it immediately anyway. Tell her you would rather keep that $350 to stop and fill up the coolant reservoir with 2 gallons of water every 20 minutes for 400 miles than wait for 2 days to overpay for a job that should cost $1100 at most. Hell, you could overnight the parts from ECS yourself and still probably save money just paying them straight 8 hours of labor. Just my 2 cents.

[evo_ski]

They said the belt is damaged. If it truly is and if the pump seizes it will snap the belt and you will have to replace all of your valves because it will greneade the motor. I would NOT drive it home. My .02. Tough pill to swallow but you could be in for a lot worse if the belt slips or snaps.

#i'monaphone

[Audi body]

Get the parts from a shop and go buy some tools and read the diy and get to work!! Its pretty easy to do

[customa4]

Overnighting the parts would be a good idea. It seems like OP wouldn't replace the belt even if he had the car at home. So never mind the lack of tools and parts it doesn't seem like he's up to the task. OP, you might as well just have it done if you have the money. You will pay more money then $1,450 to have two different shops tear it apart regardless of who the mechanics are. You're also not gonna shave much money off the price by not having them do the belt. The belt alone doesn't cost much so you might save $50. Sounds like they're charging labor for most of it. It sucks that it happened to your car far away from home. Make sure you mark down the mileage it was done and do the next timing belt service before 75k.

[walky_talky20]

Wow, I guess everywhere else is way more expensive than where I live. We charge approx $600 installed for a full t-belt and water pump kit on a 1.8T, (and usually apologize to the customer for how expensive that is!).

[evo_ski]

Oh wow! Thats crazy. I have never heard of anything sub 1k.

#i'monaphone

[imnuts]

I would find out what their labor rate is and what all they're charging. If it's the only shop available, you don't have much of a choice unless you want to tow the car. If there is belt damage, you might as well do the full service. Most shops around Philly that I've seen with pricing listed online it's usually around $800 for the 1.8T timing belt service.

[SJorge3442]

the only way that price would make sense would be if you have 3.0. These take much longer to swap a belt and pump than the 1.8. I did it in about 10 hours my first time through, which was my first repair on this car, but now I could do it in about 5 or 6 I would say. Also, make sure you replace the timing belt tensioner. Dont skimp out. These engines depend on the belt and its probably one of the only, if not THE ONLY component of the engine that is typically responsible for grenading your engine.

If you have a 3.0 and they are going to change, the pump, all the rollers/pullies, tensioner, and belt. I'd say that price isnt too bad.
If you have a 1.8 and thats the price, well then, thats a lot.

[g huns]

Oh wow! Thats crazy. I have never heard of anything sub 1k.

#i'monaphone

Local German mechanic around here charges $900. I was too cheap to pay that and did it myself.

If I was far from home and had very limited options, I would not consider $1450 to be that bad.

Could you guys let me know what you would do in that situation, and if there is any relation between timing belt and water pump.

Obviously you now know they are related. Sucks to learn the hard way. How many miles on the offending water pump?

[A4_Quattro]

Wow, I guess everywhere else is way more expensive than where I live. We charge approx $600 installed for a full t-belt and water pump kit on a 1.8T, (and usually apologize to the customer for how expensive that is!).

I lived in Erie for 2 years and I truly miss the reasonable prices for everything! I don't miss the winters though.

[walky_talky20]

Yep. Any direction you go crap gets more expensive.

[SlickFix]

OP, how much would it cost to flatbed it to San Fran? According to google maps it's about 188 miles. Do you have AAA?

It might be worth it to have it towed back to your own mechanic. You mentioned in your original post that you "can't" tow it. Is that because of cost, or location?