Looking for some input from you guys.

I'm not much of a grease monkey, and never seem to have the time to learn how to take care of my engine. So... I have to submit myself to the mechanic, unfortunately.

Anyway, I got my timing belt job done around 30k miles ago and now my coolant is leaking.

Whether this is due to my A/C being broken due to a very very hot summer, I don't know. But my coolant is leaking and after being looked at by the mechanic, I need to get my thermostat, water pump, [serpentine belt], electric water pump (probably auxiliary water pump) and hoses replaced.

They want to charge me $2400 to get this all done and I want to know what you guys think. Am I getting jipped? Can I get away without replacing all these parts?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

not really. they are all in the same area and require the same horrendous amount of preparation work to get at. It is best to have it all replaced at the same time while the car is apart. Did they not replace this when your timing belt was done?

they are probably quoting you the "book" labor. it should take less hours than to book says so the estimate of $2400 is probably pretty high. Is this at a dealership service center or an independent shop? I would shop around to some other places. Prices at indy shops can vary by quite a bit. I'm assuming your car has the 2.7T? If so $2400 is probably about double what I would consider reasonable.

-not an expert, just an enthusiast

 

All, except for the auxiliary pump was replaced 30k miles ago... I'm surprised it's leaking and so soon.

 

Ok, so it's the electric water pump, not the auxiliary water pump.

Man, I'm so confused.

 

the water pump is at the front of the engine and driven by the timing belt

the auxilary coolant pump is on the rear of the engine and is electrically powered

THIS should help

 

the electric water pump can be replaced or even bypassed altogether just by removing the intake manifold, something i can have off in 30 minutes. id ask the tech specifically "what is leaking on my car, which water pump, or is it both water pumps..."

aux water pump leaking is very common. he may just want to do t-belt water pump and thermostat for more work or to cover his ***.....

 

I ended up just getting them both taken care of. They said that both pumps were leaking so I just went for it. As much as i didn't want to, the sound of two water pumps leaking scared me.

 

not only would it scare me but the chance of them coincidentally going bad at the same time is amazing. he took you. probably just secondary pump.

sleep well knowing you should be covered for a few years. any other coolant leak from here on out should be turbos.. so thats not a big deal..