READ: Crown Pumps & IDParts

cevans · **Joined:** Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:48 pm **Posts:** 278

Before IDParts stocked and sold the Crown water pump I put the pump on my own CRD for testing and also sent one to a diesel specialist shop for one of their's technician's vehicles. I ran the pumps for months before offering it for sale to test the reports of quick failure. Until last week I had a great deal of confidence in the pump.

However, last week I heard from the friend who was also testing the pump, he reported that the pump had started leaking. I expressed him a new pump and, when taking the first one out, there was noticeable play in the sprocket. No leaking on my vehicle yet, but I am keeping my eye on it. So, I now have seen firsthand a water pump failure where I can be certain it was installed correctly.

On this water pump, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place - the OEM pump fails too, but also costs $200 or more. We need Crown to be a reliable alternative to OEM. I brought this pump and another failed pump directly to Crown's product manufacturing team to ask "whats up with this?". To this point Crown has been very willing to adress quality concerns & product issues with us, and together we've made changes/improvements to some of their products. Some things we stay away from, though.

Crown's product team has informed us that based on our discussions they have upgraded the bearing and sprocket housing, and tested it more intensely through faster RPMs then the original pump went through. Manufacturing is already underway and we will have the new pumps in a few weeks.

IDParts has stopped selling the Crown pump in the CRD Timing Belt Kit until the new pumps are in. I'm going to ask Crown to voluntarily swap out pumps that have already been sold, if they say no then IDParts will swap anyway for anyone who wants to swap their original Crown pump for the upgraded/fixed Crown pump. If you'd rather go OEM I'm happy to provide a full credit on the Crown pump.

If you would like to talk about this please call and ask for me, Corey, as I will be handling this myself.

geordi · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 3:32 pm

Way to be a stand-up vendor Corey. This makes me even happier about suggesting your company for people looking for the timing belt kits.

I have had 2 in just the last few days asking me about doing the timing on their CRDs, and I sent them both your way for the parts. You are stocking the Litens tensioners now, right?

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 3:59 pm

I am more confident in doing business with you in the future seeing how you are an honest businessman.

I noticed that you are in my "neighborhood", do you offer person to person sales?

cevans · **Joined:** Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:48 pm **Posts:** 278

Correct - we are importing the Litens tensioners from Europe. The 2.8L is ubiquitous there so these are available and pricing is more competitive than our US dealers. It is ironic that I need to buy from Europe as they are made in Canada, but I've spoken with Litens Canada and they don't have the means to sell them to us in the USA. I don't understand this. (I actually sold a CRD kit to a Litens employee no less!)

Local pickup is welcome! I typically drive my TDI day-to-day so I probably won't have my Jeep on site. We are in Pembroke MA, the warehouse inside a large industrial park. If you place an order on the site there is an option for "Local Pickup", just select that and let me know what time you will be swinging by.

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Wed May 30, 2012 4:05 pm

cevans wrote:

Local pickup is welcome! I typically drive my TDI day-to-day so I probably won't have my Jeep on site. We are in Pembroke MA, the warehouse inside a large industrial park. If you place an order on the site there is an option for "Local Pickup", just select that and let me know what time you will be swinging by.

GREAT! Thank you!

jtz54 · **Joined:** Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:37 pm **Posts:** 73

Corey - Having bought one of the last Crown pumps from you, I am glad you followed up on this. I just got it installed at Affordable German Auto repair in Phoenix and Bill the owner did say he didn't think that water pump was so great. Too bad I'm a few weeks too late. I have to hope for the best. If I start leaking in the next 6 months or so will your offer of swapping the pump still be good? Thanks for being that standup guy.

John

cevans · **Joined:** Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:48 pm **Posts:** 278

John - aftermarket replacement pieces typically carry a 12 mo/12,000 mile warranty, so this is applicable here too. However, even after that period I will try to work something out.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2012 9:25 pm

nice to hear that there are possible improvements coming. But after seeing what has happened so far with the crown pumps I still will not be touching them.

jtz54 · **Joined:** Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:37 pm **Posts:** 73

Corey - Thanks for the response. Can't ask for more. I hope the pump keeps performing and if something happens to this one I'd be willing to give the new Crown pump a try. I just hate that it's expensive getting this beast worked on. Love the torque though!

jtz54 · **Joined:** Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:37 pm **Posts:** 73

Update: The Crown Pump failed at 7K. The bearing was so bad that it wobbled and started tearing up the timing belt.
Kudos to Corey at ID Parts who over-nighted a Mopar pump and timing belt to get me back on the road. Can't ask for more!!!

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:21 am

Hows the idlers and tensioners doing? I just so happen to have a customer out with that along with Mopar water pump. If they have problem, I rather do a recall before too late.

geordi · **Posted:** Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:18 am

jtz54 wrote:

Update: The Crown Pump failed at 7K. The bearing was so bad that it wobbled and started tearing up the timing belt.
Kudos to Corey at ID Parts who over-nighted a Mopar pump and timing belt to get me back on the road. Can't ask for more!!!

Wow, only 7k on it? That is TERRIBLE. Remind me to avoid anything they make in the future if their QC is that bad.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:56 am

I know one other Crown pump that failed 3K after it was installed. It was on my buddys CRD in which the dealer screwed up the timing belt job 5 times. The pump started to leak... badly and without warning. It was replaced with an OE Mopar pump by the dealership.

READ: Crown Pumps & IDParts

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