Water pump failure!, It could happen to you! Options

[GrimReaper]

At only 122 100km (75,860mi)!! The water pump bearing tear apart, and ball bearing parts and pieces found in the timing belt cover:

So when you replace your timing belt, make sure to replave or have replace your water pump in the same time! Unles you'll have to make the job twice

[azian_advanced]

wow, hopefully you didn't damage your motor..
this should be a good wake up call for those who are still using their factory installed waterpump.

[RickJamesBish]

So should I be worried? I'm about 200 away from 70k.

[njccmd2002]

160K

[Bitter]

waterpump should be changed with each timing belt, i thought this was common knowledge?

[samir0189]

Have you guys ever changed your timing belt, rickjames & njccmd? It's supposed to be done every 60k as to avoid these types of things failing. And Bitter is right, water pump should be changed at the same interval.

[RickJamesBish]

No. Timing belt is one of the belts on the left side of the engine?

[samir0189]

Uh, you have an ST so I'm not 100% sure but I'd like to say yes. It should be under a black cover, or some sort of cover.

Edit: I just remembered both the belts in my GT are on the left side, so to clarify: It is NOT the one that runs the a/c compressor, power steering,alternator, etc. That is the serpentine belt.

This post has been edited by samir0189: Oct 19, 2008 - 4:21 PM

[RickJamesBish]

I'll look into it. Is it just the design/older technology that it has to be replaced, cause I've never heard of a repair like that on newer cars.

[samir0189]

As far as I know, timing belts are still being used. Some manufacturers use timing chains which supposedly last longer than the belts, but the chains can stretch over time and make noise. I'm fairly certain you can't have an OHV engine without some form of timing belt/chain.

[RickJamesBish]

No no, I was asking why they have to be replaced so early, since I haven't heard of this problem in newer cars. Feel me?

[Rayme]

Water pump are a maintenance object, they are like 30$ so they should be replace with the timing belt.
Anything with a dry bearing will eventually wear out.


...this happend to me with my 5th gen GT....heard a PPSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. CRACK...was stranded. lol

[Bitter]

on the 7afe the timing belt does not drive the water pump, the water pump is driven by the same belt as the power steering pump.

[alltracman78]

Older cars have a 60k mile change interval for the belt, newer ones have a 90k mile change interval.

76k is VERY low mileage for an OEM Toyota pump to go bad.
If the car is a 60k change, I usually do the pump every other T belt change.
For the 90k cars I'll do it every 90k.

[samir0189]

I get you now, it's not really a problem, its preventative maintenance. If you don't replace it as recommended, it can do what the OP's did, and the bearing can give out or it can leak. And if that happens you risk overheating the motor, and the consequences of that are ew.

As for why you haven't heard it with "new" cars I'm not sure. I mean it would be odd to hear of a 07-08 vehicle with this problem but its not impossible.

[Bitter]

No no, I was asking why they have to be replaced so early, since I haven't heard of this problem in newer cars. Feel me?

newer cars need water pumps replaced as well, take for example the chrysler LH engines...V6's with timing chains, used in the:
* 1998-2004 Chrysler Concorde
* 1998-2004 Dodge Intrepid
* 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus sedan
* 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum SE
* 2001-present Chrysler Sebring convertible and sedan
* 2005-present Chrysler 300
* 2006-present Dodge Charger SE (Initially, only fleet models received the 2.7L in 2006)
* 2008- Dodge Avenger
* 2009- Dodge Journey
* 2002- Chrysler Intrepid (Canada)
are a timing chain engine, the water pump is behind the chain and driven by it and does need to be changed. it sucks....because a water pump leaks coolant..and the timing chain is bathed engine oil to keep it lubricated.

nicely done! lets put the water pump which will leak in with the innards of the engine which is the last place you want coolant to be!

[samir0189]

Older cars have a 60k mile change interval for the belt, newer ones have a 90k mile change interval.

76k is VERY low mileage for an OEM Toyota pump to go bad.
If the car is a 60k change, I usually do the pump every other T belt change.
For the 90k cars I'll do it every 90k.

Alltracman is it 60 or 90 for our cars? I was always told 60, i never knew of a 90. I never got a Owners manual with my celi either If its 90 ill be happy, I'm due for a tbelt @ 248k, and im @ 238 now.

[Bitter]

funny thing about the 60 vs 90 thing...i've seen the spec change from one model year within the same generation of vehicle with the same part numbers for belt and tensioners and such. reason being? manufactuer decided that 90 was OK and that 90 sells better, by then its out of warranty by a good bit and probably on the 2nd owner who isnt going to be reporting reliability to statistics companies. some volvos have 110K mile timing belts!

[99GT]

Thats just the average of time intervals, some parts last longer than some.

My 99gt went out at 75,000ish. Did a full tune up since everything was out anyways.

[GrimReaper]

waterpump should be changed with each timing belt, i thought this was common knowledge?

Even though it's a common knowledge that changing water pump and timing belt in the same time, as your sig says, some might have a timing belt overdue right?