Guys...What would cause 2 non-vauxhall water pumps to fail...each within about 4-6 weeks.

The supplier told my mechanic that the first one failed due to "oil contamination" which neither the mechanic or I could see
signs of from anywhere.

Now it looks like the second one is leaking also....The Vauxhall one that came out was fine but changed for a cheapo as recommended when the cambelt was changed..Is it a case of Vauxhall part only ? Is it a fault in the fitting ?

I need to phone mechanic in the morning (Tues 2nd OcT) to give him the happy news..ANY help you could give
would be HUGELY appreciated.

crap water pumps??

i would say you have ben very unlucky bud !! get either qh or gen vaux + MAKE SURE THE ANTIFREEZE IS THE RIGHT STRENTGH   !  :y

Had the block been properly cleaned where the pump seal goes...

What sort of price is a VX Omega water pump ? Not that it really matters if it does the job. !

duggs wrote on 01. Oct 2007 at 22:44:

What sort of price is a VX Omega water pump ? Not that it really matters if it does the job. !

not dear, book at work and for once i am home, but change from £30 with trade card  :)

I might get blasted for this by those that have more experience but how many miles has the car done ? My ex police 3.2 had full history and showed the water pump wasn't changed until it failed at 138k miles. If yours has low mileage, may be better to clean up the vauxhall one and put it back if you still have it.

Good luck

Mick_600 wrote on 01. Oct 2007 at 23:09:

I might get blasted for this by those that have more experience but how many miles has the car done ? My ex police 3.2 had full history and showed the water pump wasn't changed until it failed at 138k miles. If yours has low mileage, may be better to clean up the vauxhall one and put it back if you still have it. Good luck

I'm inclined to agree. My water pump is 8 yrs old with 145 000 miles under its (fan ::)) belt

But, if you are delving into the guts of the thing and doing the belt/tensioners, replace the pump at the same time.  £30 or less from VX for a genuine one and 15 minutes of your time.  VX even put a new O ring in the box as well....

Saves it all going Pete Tong 25 minutes after you have put the beggar back together again with a new belt......   :-/

hotel21 wrote on 01. Oct 2007 at 23:52:

...... Saves it all going Pete Tong 25 minutes after you have put the beggar back together again with a new belt......   :-/

but in this case due to inferior pump it has gone t1t$ up. If it aint broke .... don't fix it. :y

I think I might come to a deal with the mechanic...I'll get a VX one for him to fit...Just gonna be hard to tell him what he's been sourcing are crap by the looks of things.

Just re-read original post.....

Two non gen pumps have broken.

Replace with a genuine one.

Its a V6 so think about a belt/tensuioner swap when your hands are in there already...

Yet another reason to work on your car yourself if you have the ability, you know what has been fitted. Cheap pattern parts are often cheap cos they're cheaply made. It's all very well for 'your' local mechanic to fit a new whatever to your car but he's not the one to have to fork out again when the new whatever fails.

hotel21 wrote on 01. Oct 2007 at 23:52:

But, if you are delving into the guts of the thing and doing the belt/tensioners, replace the pump at the same time.  £30 or less from VX for a genuine one and 15 minutes of your time.  VX even put a new O ring in the box as well.... Saves it all going Pete Tong 25 minutes after you have put the beggar back together again with a new belt......   :-/

completley agree here, its a 3 bolt job to change, use vx genuine part as mentioned previously, sods law will ensure it fails a week later if you dont.. :(

Ok..I've sourced a VX one and the original mechanic is going to fit it for £50.00..VX quoted £300 to supply and fit..jeezzzzz

BUT what on earth is going wrong. The supplier of the cheapo ones has refused to refund any monies to the mechanic because he sais its the "fault of my car"....How can that be claimed. What on earth could be "wrong with the car" to kill 2 cheapo water pumps inside 2 months ???

duggs wrote on 02. Oct 2007 at 10:49:

Ok..I've sourced a VX one and the original mechanic is going to fit it for £50.00..VX quoted £300 to supply and fit..jeezzzzz BUT what on earth is going wrong. The supplier of the cheapo ones has refused to refund any monies to the mechanic because he sais its the "fault of my car"....How can that be claimed. What on earth could be "wrong with the car" to kill 2 cheapo water pumps inside 2 months ???

Nothing thats nonsense....goods are unfit for the purpose they were intended for - sales of goods act, hit them hard with it.

Poorly maintained car - ie oil cooler failure - can shorten the life of a water pump but i am talking years and thousands of miles to be able to impact it. Failure due to the car is not possible in a few miles or days.

I'd be tempted to use sale of goods act not fit for intended use and mention trading standards office and involve them Ill bet you get money back!

What auxiliary belt are you using? I gave up on the Autovaux version as it seems too short, puts a massive side load on the bearings if you can get it on.

I've just reread your post, it,s a V6 so my reply is rubbish, apologies.