Do I need a new water inlet?

S

sakoluvr

New member
Ok, this has become a headache. Put a new radiator, hoses and thermostat in the `97 Right after I did the 2002 sport.

The `97 is giving me a headache. I am getting a leak from the t stat housing. Drained the coolant again and put another new Toyota t stat in. Torqued to spec and it's still seeping. Cleaned the the gasket recess but there is no corrosion.

Starting to think that the water inlet may have a crack? No leaks prior to the install. I may have screwed up putting the housing on the first time?

I am ordering another inlet. $60 seems like the next step.

Anyone have to replace the inlet housing?
 
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i am having this problem too after a new waterpump and a new thermostat neck. i can't figure it out. can you put some photos of your leak up? would like to compare with mine.
 
Looking from the bottom of the t stat housing, I am getting a seep at the seam. Less than 40k on the water pump and TB. Leak started only after I did the radiator work. I am starting to wonder if I didn't torque the nuts evenly and damaged the housing at one of the stud holes
 
The housing on my 97 was starting to corrode pretty bad around the end that connects to the lower radiator hose.

I'm assuming you are using a new thermostat gasket? Do you have a different torque wrench you can use, maybe its not being torqued down correctly.
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Gipp, I don't have that corossion. There is a little pitting on the flat side but I really don't think that is a problem since the real connection is the gasket in the recess. Yep, new gaskets.

Used 2 different torque wrenches (inch lbs and ft lbs) and even went a little past 14 ft lbs.

Considering that this is not a complicated connection and I been in there 2x already, I think it may be the housing. Thinking a hairline crack won't show until the bolts start flexing the housing. Should be able to have the part installed friday. I am going to make it a point to turn down the nuts evenly until I hit them with the torque wrench.

Dang aggravating. Starting to wonder if what's on there is OEM too. I will compare them when the new part comes in.
 
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There is a channel in the gasket that the edge of the thermostat fits into. It works well unless there is another issue.
 
i meant on the surface of the neck where it meets the waterpump, in addition to the gasket that goes around the thermostat and sits inside, similar to this from a BP4W

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That may work but I am hesitant to add something that was not designed to be used. The single t stat gasket is supposed to work unless something else is wrong.
 
I know you said your waterpump only has 40k miles on it but are you sure the leak isn't from the waterpump itself? It could be the waterpump gasket behind where the thermostat goes or are you positive its from that water pipe?
 
I am going to double check that but I figure what are the chances that the water pump starts leaking the same exact time I replaced the t-stat?

I ordered the new housing and hope to have it installed Friday.
 
i am almost positive because it's different than the leak i had before the water pump replacement. the original would drip all over my oil pan and never left residue but this time it's in between the crack where the neck and pump meet. i think op has the exact same leak.

sakoluvr said:
That may work but I am hesitant to add something that was not designed to be used. The single t stat gasket is supposed to work unless something else is wrong.
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a couple of people said to add some rtv but that stuff is never the answer. i think the gasket may help, but i havent tried it. the leak is too slow to even show up in my reservoir so it's not worrying me rn. and i'm not too keen on pulling that stuff off without knowing a fix.
 
sakoluvr said:
I am going to double check that but I figure what are the chances that the water pump starts leaking the same exact time I replaced the t-stat?

I ordered the new housing and hope to have it installed Friday.
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Unlikely but it's possible. I've seen weirder stuff happen, that's for sure.

It probably is the water tube. Maybe it isn't "flat" enough anymore to make good contact with the thermostat gasket.

Have you looked with a mirror to see exactly where the leak is? If its between the water inlet and the water pump, where they meet, it has to be either the gasket, the water pump surface or the water inlet surface.

Good luck
 
I looked a little closer at the intake pipe where the gasket rests on the flat surface. Had a couple of tiny pin head pits that extended to the inner edge. Had no idea that would cause a leak especially since there was no leak before I put the new t stat in.

The new water intake pipe was polished smooth as glass. The new pipe fixed that annoying dribble. Thanks all.
 
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