2006: When to replace Water Pump & Alternator

[GGeezer]

Bought my daughter a 2006 4-runner with a V6, 2WD. Had it about 2 years and changed coolant, battery, brake fluid, all the filters, and transmission fluid at 100,000 miles.

The 4R now has 130,000 miles and she is away at collage.

Since I bought it used I don't know if or when the water pump, thermostat, or alternator may have been replaced. The belt still looks good.

Since the pump and alternator can't last forever and these are the parts that would, in my experience, put her on the side of the road, when should I replace them in order for them not to fail on her? Now, or wait till 150k, 175k, or 200k miles?

Your insights appreciated.

 

[av8ter]

Bought my daughter a 2006 4-runner with a V6, 2WD. Had it about 2 years and changed coolant, battery, brake fluid, all the filters, and transmission fluid at 100,000 miles.

The 4R now has 130,000 miles and she is away at collage.

Since I bought it used I don't know if or when the water pump, thermostat, or alternator may have been replaced. The belt still looks good. Since these are the parts that would, in my experience, put her on the side of the road, when should I replace them in order for them not to fail on her? Now, or wait till 150k, 175k, or 200k miles?

Replace them when they fail. No sense in changing a part that isn't a routinely scheduled maintenance item. This wouldn't fall under preventative-maintenance.

 

[GGeezer]

If I were the one driving it or if she where less than a 4 hour drive, that's what I'd do. But that's not the case.

Should I expect those parts to last to 150k, 175k , or even 200k miles?

 

[AuSeeker]

There's no way for anyone to answer your question, these items fail when they fail, they may never fail while she still owns the T4R or they could fail tomorrow, no specfic time limit on their lifespan.

If it makes you feel better replace them now, but you will be in the same boat because the new ones could fail at any time as well, if you want peace of mind get AAA for your daughter so she won't be stranded on the side of the road for a long period, I also have a daughter who just finished college this year, so almost in the same boat as you, I bought my daughter a 2007 Corolla with less than 7000 miles on it for a graduation present, it still looks and smells new, been parked in a garage all of it's life and only needed new tires on it, I suspect it will last her for the next 7 to 10 years/150,000 miles or more at the very least is she takes care of it, but there's no way I can forecast when if ever something may break on it so she also got AAA for both our peace of mind as well, now she's set with a good car as she gets her own life established.

 

[GGeezer]

I know you're right. No way to know EXACTLY when. But I was hoping there was an "average" life span on them.

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

I had the timing belt replaced at 90k on my '04 and had them replace water pump to save costs on labor because they'd already be in there replacing timing belt and can do water pump at the same time.


Are you still running on your OG timing belt?

 

[av8ter]

I had the timing belt replaced at 90k on my '04 and had them replace water pump to save costs on labor because they'd already be in there replacing timing belt and can do water pump at the same time.


Are you still running on your OG timing belt?

His motor has a chain, not a belt.

 

[GGeezer]

Whoo! Glad you confirmed the chain. That's what I thought, but I was busy checking on that when you replied.

 

[RonJR]

People generally replace the water pump when replacing timing belts just because they're in there, not because it needs it. Alternators can easily go 200,000 miles or more. Consider that the bearing technology in the alternator is similar to what's in your furnace motor, which will typically run 10,000 hours or more without attention. That's equivalent to about 500,000 miles.

I'm a strong believer in not taking anything apart that you don't have to, because it is almost impossible to reassemble it with the same quality and consistency that was done at the factory. I agree with others; get her a AAA membership and sleep well at night. You already got her a vehicle of superb quality. Your chances of accurately guessing which component is likely to fail first and pre-empting it are pretty slim.

 

[riceandpho]

i would take out the serpentine belt out and do a thorough inspection, you can get a new belt cheap, i used a dayco brand. water pump i havent changed mine out, im at 168k and only major thing i changed out was the alternator, but i strained it enough to kill it. since you put another 30k on there, i would do another brake fluid flush and power steering flush, also have you change the gear oil?. also some basic item like spark plugs and clean throttle body and maf sensor.

 

[Robs08Runner]

I think that you're at a really good point where she can drive it and enjoy it. If she were my daughter, I would skip the water pump till it starts to drip. The alternator, I would go ahead and replace it when this battery gets old. Should be about 4 years down the road. I always like to put in a new battery when the alternator is done so the old battery won't fry the new alternator trying to keep it up. I would also replace with a good Toyota alternator vs a cheapie. Some sort of roadside asst. would be good to have too. AAA or towing insurance through where ever you have your car insurance should be enough security.
Enjoy