What’s next for our Volkswagen Mk7 Golf GTI? It’s time for some maintenance. Our car may only have 25,000 miles on it, but Volkswagen ownership is full of surprises.
This month’s surprise? A leaking water pump/thermostat, which was diagnosed by noticing coolant loss and aski…
If you know what to expect, VW never disappoints. 
VW with a thermostat housing leak... a staple since 1992.
It is sort of amazing how reliably unreliable VW is, isn't it? 30 years later and still building the same problems.
I have owned both a 1999 MK4 GTI with a VR6 and a 2010 MK6 GTI and they both needed water pumps replaced in the time that I had them. Can confirm that its is not a fun job.
You realize that water pump is under an extended warranty for 8yr/80k miles right?
It could have been done for free (or a significant discount) at the dealer.
You removed the CEL bulb? 
In reply to flatlander937 :
Yes, but I skipped the dealer for a few reasons:
1. I didn't have time to wait for the dealer--this happened the weekend before we left for the Tire Rack One Lap of America.
2. I didn't trust the dealer to fix the car without issues before that giant trip.
3. I didn't trust the dealer to actually do it for free--the car was only barely using coolant.
And, mostly...
4. I wanted to go through the process myself to get the story. Most of these cars are at/near the end of that warranty period, so this is going to become a very common DIY repair. Especially since the replacement part has the same flaws.
In reply to Tom Suddard :
"2. I didn't trust the dealer to fix the car without issues before that giant trip."
This is the reason that I do any repairs that I can possibly accomplish. Unless it needs a machine shop, it's mine.
Don't forget to change the crap thermostat too! Lots of trouble with crud build up in the top end of the turbo engines in the winter time because the engines don't warm up quickly enough to evap the condensation. VW dealers response, you use bad oil (ah, your shop does the service), you run oil to long (ah, check your shops service records, 3500 miles), too short trips (ah, I drive 10 miles one way to work, define "too short"), need to drive it more (more?). Put a NAPA stat in it and problem is gone. My friends 2007 GTI did this, just like my 2008 GTI. Talked to service tech's, really makes a mess in extreme cold, crud freezes, crankcase pressure can't vent and your guess is what gasket/seal is going to be breached.
Lastly the radio went on the Fritz (its is German after all), won't eject CD and FM tuner is off, won't hold the station selected. Dealer, "worked fine for us", I check before I leave, same E36 M3, go back to into dealer and give him my keys, better look at it this time, it still doesn't work, dealer "worked for us". All this crap while it was under warranty.
I'm guessing if it wasn't warranty these issues would have been fixed promptly, with a substantial bill.
I really loved driving that GTI but I dump it.
Tom Suddard said:It is sort of amazing how reliably unreliable VW is, isn't it? 30 years later and still building the same problems.
After owning them since 98 I should know better. My favorite is when they fix a problem (ring issues, timing components, transmission woes) and then have it again a generation or two later.
Thank you for posting this and keeping me from buying another water cooled German car.
In reply to Tom1200 :
I have a water cooled German car, and it has been flawless so far. I guess it helps to pick the right water cooled German car.
In reply to RacerBoy75 :
Do tell, I like the way they drive but I am gun shy of them.
Tom1200 said:Thank you for posting this and keeping me from buying another water cooled German car.
I'm not sure the air cooled ones are any more reliable =/
CrustyRedXpress said:Tom1200 said:Thank you for posting this and keeping me from buying another water cooled German car.
I'm not sure the air cooled ones are any different =/
Well, they don't leak antifreeze.
(I first typed 'coolant' but they're really air+oil cooled and they shonuff leak oil...)
In reply to CrustyRedXpress :
I've owned two; while the maintenance intervals where shorter, mine were always solid runners.
“lazy Saturday wrenching.”
I can relate to this!!!
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