How to Replace the Water Pump in a VW Jetta

The water pump is the heart of the VW Jetta's cooling system, circulating the coolant. Make sure to change out a faulty water pump in your Volkswagon Jetta, which could cause the engine to overheat resulting in serious damage.

Things You'll Need

  • Drain pan
  • Wrench set
  • Coolant

Diesel Engines and 4-Cylinder Gasoline Jetta Engines

  • Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

  • Take out the drive belt, the alternator and the timing belt cover.

  • Disconnect the following hoses from the water pump: the engine hose, heater hose and the lower radiator hoses.

  • Loosen and remove the water pump bolts, taking note of where you have removed them for installation, as they are various lengths.

  • Remove the water pump, turning it just slightly to remove it from the engine block. Separate the water pump pulley from the pump.

  • Clean all the mating surfaces and attach the pulley to the new pump.

  • Put a good amount of silicone compound onto the seals of the pump and install new o-ring seals. Install the new pump into the engine with a new pump gasket, tightening the bolts to 7 foot pounds (10 Nm).

  • Tighten the bolts to the pulley to 15 foot pounds (20 Nm) after the belt has been installed and tensioned.

  • Reattach and reconnect all remaining parts in the order in which they were removed.

  • Refill the cooling system and reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and check for leaks when it reaches normal operating temperature.

5-Cylinder Jetta Engines

  • Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

  • Loosen the three water pump pulley bolts and remove the V-belts and the timing belt with the cover. Take out the water pump bolts and remove the pulley.

  • Loosen and remove the intermediate shaft drive sprocket bolt. Take the sprocket out of the engine.

  • Take off the water pump bolts and remove the pump. Clean the gasket surface thoroughly.

  • Attach the water pump pulley to the new pump and install the new pump with a new o-ring seal. Put plenty of silicone compound onto the o-ring and attach a new pump gasket onto the pump housing when installing.

  • Attach all the bolts to the water pump to the pump housing by hand, then tighten all the bolts to the 15 foot pounds (20 Nm).

  • Tighten all the bolts to the pulley to 15 foot pounds (20 Nm) after the belt is installed and tensioned.

  • Reattach and reconnect all remaining parts in the order in which they were removed.

  • Refill the cooling system and reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and check for leaks when it reaches normal operating temperature.

  • Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan. Disconnect the negative battery cable.