I have a leak somewhere on the inlet where the thermostat resides. I thought that it may have been the thermostat gasket and/or the thermostat itself so i went ahead and replaced those along with new hoses, a new radiator cap (which was all busted), and a couple new belts for the hell of it. So after putting everything back together and adding new coolant...it's still leaking in the exact same place. There seems to be something that the dome shaped inlet is bolted onto and that piece looks like it may be bonded onto the engine block with some sort of orange glue and 2 bolts of its own besides the 3 for the dome piece. I removed those 2 bolts and tried to remove the bottom piece but it wouldn't budge. It appears that the leak is coming from somewhere in that area. It's a slow leak usually, but when the engine got hot the coolant seemed to all dump out really fast, but that was before i replaced the parts and i haven't run it till hot yet. I need to know if that piece has some sort of gasket glue that may have just gotten old and is leaking, or is there a crack that may be there? Is it possible to remove that piece? Thanks for any help.

 

I looked at it and am guessing this is a 3.0 motor and am not familiar with the 3.0. If it is a 22re another angle on the pic would help.

 

If it is leaking from the spot you ircled, you are going to have to pull the front of the engine and replace the water pump. That is what you see leaking. If you are in that deep you might as well do the timing belt and look at all the other pulleys while you are there....

 

Thanks for the replies. I agree that it must be coming from behind the plate piece that covers the timing belt, but i seem to be having a problem. There is a bolt that is in the way and i can't pull the plate over the outlet. Is this bolt supposed to be removable? I can't seem to pull it/twist it out with pliers and I'm afraid of breaking it. The only other way i can see to remove the plate is to drill a cutout in the plate so i can pass it over the bolt....and then i guess later patch it up. Thanks for help.

 

You are looking at the end of the IDLER SUB-ASSY, TIMING BELT, NO.2....that stud should be removable. When was your last timing belt. etc. change done?

http://www.utoyot8.com/Picture.aspx?...ccode=&ppName=

http://www.toyotapartseast.com/Page_...VAID=3569,3570

 

I've had the truck since 2002 and I've never changed it out. I'm not sure when it was done before i got it. Do you think a pair of vice grips would get that bolt out?

 

Soak it good with PB Blaster or another good penetrating oil. I'd double nut the stud with the nuts lined up and slip a wrench down to the lower nut and loosen it from there. Vice grips always seem to cause me grief.

If you've put 90k miles on it since '02 and without prior records, you are really at the point of replacing the timing belt, idler pulleys, water pump, etc. That idler and the water pump may both very well be leaking now.

 

i just did my timing belt last week. i cant remember for sure but you can use a 5/16 (i think) socket on it. a really small socket. i used sockets to remove/install those studs and i cleaned them with wd40 and a wire brush.