Can anybody send a link or explain how to change a waterpump on a Mk3 Polo GT?

The cambelt was done 3000 miles ago so just going to re-fit the same one, but the waterpump requires replacing.

Just a simple start to finish would be brilliant. Much appreciated

Did you do the cam belt?

Did you do the cam belt?

No but have proof it was done 3000 miles ago

Cambelt off, undo two bolts, pull waterpump out, put new one in, tighten up, put cambelt back on

3 bolts Iscariot. Lol

Might need to unbolt the engine and lift it slightly.

Cambelt off, undo two bolts, pull waterpump out, put new one in, tighten up, put cambelt back on

the only one i've ever done involved your missing step, beating seven bales of poo out of it!

don't let me put you off though I'm a miserable sod!

3 bolts Iscariot. Lol

Haha, my bad, i've only been working on later polo engines recently

Presuming you wanted to change the belt as well (I would always do it, unless you can be certain that it has been changed recently/within the last few thousand miles) It would go something along the lines of:

1. Release the bolts on the alternator belt crank pulley (4 hex-head bolts, 6mm? NOT centre bolt). You can do this through the 'window' in the front offside inner arch - turn the steering wheel full-lock right.
2. Set engine to TDC - 19mm on crankshaft bolt
3. Unclip top outer cambelt cover
4. Remove cam pulley (using this method, as recommended by Hayesey. works best with an assistant)

   - Put a 10mm socket and extension on the cambelt cover bolt through the spokes of the pulley

   - Have your assistant hold this extension

   - Use a breaker bar and 24mm (pref 6-sided, the bolt head is shallow) to undo the pulley bolt.

   - Push cambelt off the camshaft pulley.

   - Remove camshaft pulley

5. Slacken alternator - 13mm and 22mm
6. Remove alternator belt
7. Place jack under engine, under the sump with a block of wood
8. Undo the offside engine mount - 17mm
9. Undo the gearbox engine mount - 17mm
10. Jack up the engine slightly, and shove it towards the fusebox (top right of engine bay)
11. Remove alternator pulley, wiggle it off the crankshaft bolt (this will often be a close fit with rust, be patient). You may have to raise/lower/wiggle the engine to get the alternator belt pulley past the inner wing.
12. Undo all remaining cambelt cover bolts (10mm) and remove the two remaining cambelt cover parts.
13. Remove the waterpump - as above, this will probably be seized on. Whack it.
14. Clean up o-ring mating surface, install new o-ring and waterpump.
15. Fit back cambelt cover
16. Fit camshaft pulley
17. Fit cambelt
18. Fit bottom part of cambelt cover
19. Tension water pump/cambelt.
20. Check and double check engine is timed correctly.
21. Fit alternator belt pulley
22. Fit outer cambelt cover (clip-on)
23. Fit alternator belt
24. Re-tension alternator
25. Lower engine
26. Re-tighten mounts.

This is from memory and is probably missing a step or two. Is the cambelt cover in 3 pieces or 4?

This is what I do, but if anyone's got any tips / shortcuts I'd be grateful, cheers.

Screw that. Assuming plastic cambelt cover of shame:

Dump the coolant.

Undo the offside engine mount, jack the engine up.

Cut/Take the fanbelt off, chuck it in the bin and buy another one for £3 if it's more than a couple of months old.

Take the cambelt cover off.

TDC the engine with a breaker bar on the bottom pulley

Cut the cambelt off.

Undo the three bloody awkward bolts halding the water pump on (swanneck spanner is your new bestest friend).

Bin the waterpump

Drop the O-ring, realise there's not one in with the new pump, spend 3 hours trying to find it.

The waterpump tensions the cambelt when you turn it on it's mounts.

Stick the new water pump on, finger spin the bolts up on it's loosest position

Spend a while flipping the bottom of the new cambelt over the bottom pulley.

Drink lots of tea and smoke yourself half to death whilst performing the above step.

Check your engine's still at TDC.

Put the Belt over the cam pulley.

Check your engine's still at TDC, whilst developing mild paranoia from all the caffine.

Set the belt tension by turning the water pump and doing the bolts up with the beloved swan neck spanner. You should be able to flip the belt 90 degrees on the stretch above the water pump when it's tensioned right.

Check your engine's still at TDC.

Tighten the water pump bolts.

Check the belt tension.

Check your engine's still at TDC.

Turn the engine over with a bar on the bottom pulley.

Check your engine's goes back to TDC.

Stick the rest of your car back together whilst checking the belt tension and valve timing as part of your newly developed OCD.

Cross yourself 3 times and turn the key.

No pulleys were removed duiring this process.