*HBoss looks around for familiar faces...*

Been a while since I've had time to post round these parts! Hope I'm still welcome here..

So I'm filling up and checking my oil yesterday and notice some red sludge building up under the timing belt cover on the engine block somewhere. So I say to myself, "self, that doesn't looks right. Coolant shouldn't be on the outside of the engine!"

So I get it checked out...water pump. S'going to cost me $460 Cdn. + $65 Cdn. + Tax = $562

Ouch.

Well, this is not a complaint. In the 3 years I've owned the 4Runner, this and the rear axle seal leak have been the only 2 major unexpected maintenance/repair items I've had to deal with. So overall, it's not a big deal. I'm still very happy with the 4Runner.

I was just wondering...does the water pump fail often? Is this a common thing? Should I expect it again in the future, etc. so on & so forth.

Thx.

Al

 

Al-

I think you are getting ripped on that price. What is that, like $400 US?

I was going to get my timing belt and water pump done for $375 US.

 

Hrmm...still sounds about right then. $460 Cdn. = approx. $340 USD

The $65 is for the coolant flush... It's at the best (and only Toyota dealership I'll go to in this city) Toyota dealership I know of here so I'm confident they'll do it right. I called around and other places charge a little bit less (maybe $50) but I don't know anything about their shop and the quality of their work. This dealership will give me a loaner to drive all day and they've always done quality work for me.

 

If it isn't actively leaking - I'd let it ride until it does. Doesn't it get colder than *&^% up there? I'm betting that if it got seriously cold the seal would get hard and possibly let a little slide past the seal - then seal up once it warmed up a bit.

When your water pump goes south - you'll know it cause it won't stop leaking. Of course you should change your water pump out just for general purposes when changing out the Timing belt. The pump itself is about $80.00. Lots of labor to dig down to it though.

 

I'd let it ride as winters here are freezing, but it's spring going into summer right now, and I have several road trips lined up in the next two months. If it decides to go, I'm not excited about breaking down on the highway in the summer heat.

 

Make sure you do the timing belt at the same time since its all going to be open.

 

How many miles are on it now, Al? Replacing the waterpump at higher mileages aren't uncommon, like 120k miles or so.

 

My 98 Tacoma was doing this at 30K miles. I guess it happens every now and then. It was replaced under warranty.

 

Wish mine was under warranty. My 4Runner has about 94k miles on it.

 

I did my timing belt, water pump, and t-stat at 170k for only $480US. The dealer wanted nearly $800.

 

Water pump + sealant + coolant flush + labor + tax = $580 Cdn. (approx. $430 USD). And I got to borrow a new Toyota Corolla for 2 days. Not a bad vehicle, great on gas!

 

WOW - that's even expensive.

I'm just getting ready to do that with a buddy. I paid $145 for parts and I'll give my buddy (a Toyota certified mechanic) $100 for his supervising time.

 

My first waterpump crapped out at 187K & I replaced it with a reman, cost me $260 to have a mobile tech do it. At roughly 201K the pump went and crapped out again but took the timing belt and a few other parts to car hell with it. That time it cost me $996. Not fun. Good luck with the repair HB