Water pump Gates or OEM Volkswagen

My water pump was replaced, I was given a loaner and some financial compensation ($599.00) towards the auto loan.

We have had our 2008 for a year and a half. It is a Komfort with 6spd manual and 2.0T. Bought it with 42k on it, currently has about 80k. Problems we have had so far are intake manifold, fuel injector cleaning, and waterpump. Overall we have been really happy with the car.

So it turned out to be the water pump. According to the service manager, they've had plenty of TSI engines come through with the same problem and he wasn't surprised about my issue. The repair was covered under the powertrain warranty. I'm happy to have my Tig back.

I have this problem. I have been hearing the noise on and off for about 6 months. It only lasts for a few seconds and usually happens at lights or when idling before I turn it off. It could never be replicated, I never saw a loss in power or performance so I haven't had a clue what to do.

But do NOT use gates water pumps, they are junk.

A gates timing belt kit for a Honda will have OE parts as Gates is a OE supplier for Honda. Except for the water pump./ Gates water pump are garbage so NEVER use a gates water pump if its driven by the timing belt.

Gates is not a decent brand when it comes to most water pumps. Their belts are great, but their pumps I do not use for most cars.

From my experience I have never had good luck with the metal impeller ones. The impellers won't break but the weight is too heavy for the shaft and the shaft ends up breaking and just free spinning. I've used 2-3 metal ones before (I am almost positive at least one of them was a gates brand) and they have all failed within 30k or less miles.

Then I hear a squeal in the water pump and a few days later it dies a silent steamy death.

I joined the water pump failure club this week in my 2013 GTI. Got lucky and they happened to have one sitting around the dealer...