Ok I started this myself but now I'm stuck. I can't get into the power steering pulley and that has to come off to get at one bolt for the water pump. Any tips for access or do I need a 32mm spanner to take the fan off? Will any 32mm spanner do or do I need a special thin looking one?

Put an HD clutch fork on too, buy one for cheapness or if you weld, weld a small plate across the back of yours. You can sometimes punch a hole in it and it's really annoying to do all the work when such a cheap part breaks.

That's what I mean though I always heard this mantra of change your water pump when you do your timing belt because of all the labour involved. Is the connection between the two really just the lifespan of the parts? This is me learning btw so sorry for all the questions.

Ok so why did I always think the water pump was deep down on the bowels of the engine and a pig of a job when it's really at the top and you're all saying it's easy? Is it generally more inaccessible on different engines or have I grown up believing a lie?

Scottyland. My mechanic is generally pretty good with me and it's probably worthwhile to just make sure there's no other parts on their way out. I wouldn't have noticed this was as bad as it is had the belt not have had to come off, under tension it doesn't have much play in it but as soon...

I got a set of those lights for £10 off a breaker at the land rover show in shepton mallet, so you'd be able to pick up some parts under budget. It all depends on how much they they give you and how much they want for it. I take it you didn't get whiplash while it was parked :p

Thank you, I just wanted to check everything before I spent more money. I was comfortable enough changing the belt and tensioner myself but this pump will be a mechanic job, it's a wee bit beyond my diy confidence.

I have egr removed, de-cat and straight through pipe it feels as if it has a bit more power and it sounds nice hearing the exhaust instead of the engine but it's a 300tdi not a td5 but I would imagine results would be similar. Don't really notice improved mpg as being able to rev a bit higher...

Diesel MOT test is a smoke test rather than emissions so it will pass.

Sorry for saying urgent I just want to try and order the parts before 5pm, I realise it was a stupid thing to say.

The wheel/ pulley on the front has part number ERR3734 My serpentine belt was being pulled off as in another thread. The tensioner looked like it needed replaced but the pulley pictured above has massive play in, extremely wobbly and water is coming out. Is this the water pump? Is this...

edit ignore me

Wish things had worked out that I could have made it, hope you have a lot of fun boys and girls who are going. Watch out for old orange seireseseses and post plenty of pics.

I'll probably try and nurse it over the road it isn't far.

Right so you know the rev counter plugs into the eh alternator, and the auxiliary belt spins that round and creates eltrickery through magic with magnets or something. So when the belt started shearing it whipped out and knocked the plug for the rev counter off the alternator. I think...

I'm really tired and I don't know whether you are taking the **** or not.

I saw a sort of rally type disco in Haddington today so stranger things have happened.

No it was just whipped off the post that that it plugs onto. I plugged it back in and tested that, the rev counter is fine again. Just curious as to whether i should be going through belts like this.

Hola, So today while driving home I lost my rev counter, then when I got off the motorway there was a squeaking noise. When I opened the bonnet the auxiliary belt had a strip torn off it which had pulled the plug off the rev counter and there were threads of belt all over the place...