Old Library

I had posted about this last week and you're right, it's NOT in the
archives. Anywho, the new pump is about $170 (ouch) and is quite easy to
replace. Start by removing the black plastic engine covers, a 6mm hex
will work in place of the 12point for these 4 bolts; also remove the
rear 3 plug-wires from the coil pack. Disconnect the small wiring
harness that goes to your recirc. pump (2 wire plug on top). Push the
pump down through its mounts, 2 rubber rings. You are ready to
disconnect the hoses going in to it. To avoid spilling too much coolant,
I clamped the hoses w/ vice-grips and then removed the hose clamps. Pull
out old pump and insert your new one. Install in reverse and top off
coolant as necessary. The level should be at Max when hot and between
min and max when cold. Just a note .... you may need to 'fix' the elect.
connection on the pump to get the plug to fit on. VW somewhere along the
line decided that they should use a slightly different pump (better,
maybe) AFTER my car was made, early 97. I just shaved away the extra
plastic on the pump's connector to allow the plug to fit. This hole job
was very easy and only took me 45 min.

Best-O-Luck
-Brendon


>It seems that my coolant recirculation pump is about to shit the bed.  It's
>making awful sounds (perhaps its only pumping air?) and vibrating much more
>than usual.  I fear the worst.  I know this subject has been discussed
>before on this list (nothing in the archives), and whomever it was, could
>you respond with your results?  Is this a DIY fix?  Any
>suggestions/comments on the best way to replace the pump?  How much for the
>part?  My homework for this evening will be to check out the Bentley.  I
>guess its a good thing I have two gallons of G12 sitting on the shelf in
>the garage.  I can make that switch when I replace the pump.
>
>BOR
>97 GTI-VR6, 36.7K miles, noisy after shutdown edition
>

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Robert Brown wrote:

> Umm yes it's right behind the coil pack - only needs to be
> replaced if it makes funny noises or doesn;t work at all - [snip]
> archives for instructions as well!!  There was a change in 96
> sometime on the connections/pump design [snip]

WAIT!

> so you may have to cut wires and replace
> the connections if you have an older version (which I do).

I just replaced my electric coolant pump this weekend.  You don't need to
cut wires at all. The new pump has a plastic receptacle which you plug
the wire/connector into. Look at the inside of the new connector and you
should see a key [ridge] on the inside and also one on the outside. These
are used as locators and prevent the old wire/connector from fitting into
the new receptacle.

With an exacto or thin blade, just shave the external ridge off the pump
receptacle. DO NOT remove the tabs on the sides , they are lock downs.
The key/ridge on the inside of the receptacle is harder to get at, but it
shaves off very easily... be careful with the razor blade/exacto knife.

You will also notice that the bottom of the pump doesn't fit snug into the
bottom rubber bracket... the pump body is not built up like the old pump.
No problem as the hoses provide plenty of support. The new pump runs
very quietly. Don't forget to have the proper color coolant on hand. I dumped

coolant all over the garage because I didn't crimp the hoses shut as
suggested
in the archives.

Ken

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 If anyone ever needs one don't buy it from the dealer (170 bucks) I ordered
one from Techtonics and it was only 125. They have to get from somewhere
which takes an extra day but I'd say its woth it. Shannon
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Hey all,
I just did this, along with epoxy-ing the coil pack.  Don't un-do that large round
connector.  That has all the wires for the engine harness.  Just remove the plastic
cover over the coil pack, the connector for the pump is right on top.  All I did to
remove the pump is clamp the line going to the firewall, remove the plastic cover, and
wrangle with the hose clamps.  No spillage.  Done once, it becomes very easy.  Hint:
use a regular Allen hex wrench  for the 12-point bolts on the cover.
I got the pump from Adirondack, around $135.
-Paul