I just got my truck back from the dealership and they said my water pump is leaking onto my timing belt. It's a 2002 xtra cab. I've never seen any leaks under my truck, EVER. It has been maintained according to manual every 5k miles.

This seems really early for a water pump to fail on any tacoma. Is this typical mileage to replace a water pump - or is it mileage and time? I was planning on doing the timing belt at 90k, but if the pump is bad I might as well get both done. The quote seemed steep though. $420 for pump and 300 for timing belt.

If its an early V6 3.4 then yeah, it's pretty common for them to seep. It is not the pump failing most likely, but the FIPG they used from the factory. They now have a metal and rubber gasket to replace the FIPG they were using to seal the pump. Given the year and the mileage you could go ahead and do it, but I have never seen one leak so bad it caused belt failure. However there is still reason for concern as you are losing coolant.

If you do take it back in for repair, make sure they are installing a pump with a gasket and not with FIPG. I have been given several pumps in the past without a gasket and refused them. FIPG is a great product, but didn't work for this application for some reason.

my 00 3.4 4runner is at 125k and still on the original pump and belt

Thanks for the advice. I actually talked to the mechanic about 30 minutes ago. The pump is not leaking. It is "seeping". To be honest, I can't find any seepage just by doing a general inspection and my coolant has never really been low when I've checked it. I'm going to check it out better when I get home.

Since this is the case, I think that I'm going to push off on getting the work done for now and save up for the job. If it was a noticeable leak I'd just get the work done now.

I'll definitely ask about the Pump gasket as it wasn't mentioned in the parts quote.

Just for my edification FIPG is basically a caulk type sealant instead of a pre-formed gasket. Right?

You better get yours done soon then Spence

That's right. FIPG stands for formed in place gasket.

yeah u better get on that b/c my 98' 3.4 4runner has 219,000 miles and has had a water pump replaced but has all original belts timing,fan,a.c. and p.s. and mine has that famous v6 whistle,squeak at idle so i should probaly change mine

My 99 is at 101K still on original Pump and T-Belt. Knock on wood

'02 w/ 155K and all original

I had a small leak of coolant in 4runner. I let it be a topped off the coolant once in a while. I changed the waterpump when I got the timing belt done at 102K. The pump did have a small seeping hole and I haven't had any coolant loss since then.

the wife has about 110k and original belt. from my searching here at yt, it seems that the 2001 is a non-interference motor. so it would be a very small chace that there would be damage brom a bad belt.


my 1987 camry was a non-interference motor and i replaced the belt at 186k after it would not start. i tried to start it and it sounded like it wanted to turn over, but the gear teeth were stuck on a part of the belt where the rubber teeth were missing. i will most def remember that sound.