2000 NB Overheated

Hello,

My first time on here. Our 2000 NB GLX with 2.0 and AT overheated just as we got home the other night. Backing into the driveway we saw the coolant in the street. Looks like it boiled over from the expansion tank. Last night with it cool I inspected hoses, radiator etc and could find no obvious damage where a leak may have come from. Refilled system, ran car in driveway and before long it overheated (light and alarm but not to the point of boliover). I noticed the fans did not come on except if I turned on the AC. I've checked the thermostat (it's actually failry new) and it is operating. I made sure there was flow through the radiator. I noticed that there is very little flow from the thermostat housing with the thermstat removed and a steady supply of water to the radiator. Could this be a water pump failure? If it is, is this a good time to repalce the timing belt or can the pump be replaced without involving the timing belt. THe Haynes manual says otherwise.

Thanks,
Rick in Pasadena, MD
(PS Can anyone recommend a good VW shop in this area?)

sounds like water pump. it's a good idea since the water pump is timing belt driven. also check your acc. drive belt also. the water pump uses a PLASTIC IMPELLAR which is known to crack. next time feel the hoses. you will probably feel the warmer temp next to the block and not too much at the radiator on the lower hoses if it is. if not cooling fan switch can be jumped to make sure not that.

You can replace the water pump w/o removing the timing belt entirely (requires removal of engine mount). You still have to take the tension off the belt and remove the belt from the water pump gear. VW says 105k for 2.0 for timing belt. I would reccomend 80K because you have automatic.

Hey, same thing happend with mine, but with a lot more booby traps. I replaced my burnt out fans, but the new ones would never come on... I kept running it hot until i got leaks... Turns out the water pump may have been the first culprit. So I replaced the water pump and timing belt. In the process, I had to replace the thermostat housing because it cracked from overheating...(its made of plastic!! wtf) But anyways,
point being that I went through the same stuff but you might as well change your timing belt so you wont have to pay labor to do it sometime down the road. Its only 20 dollars more, there should be no labor for slipping a new belt on.
Another thing... it is STRONGLY advised to get a waterpump with METAL impellars because its just bound to happen again. Some stores on ebay carry them for less than 100 dollars.
Good luck!!!
-mike