Water pump inspection

[RS Dude]

Wanted to check to see if wp is leaking. Want to remove fewest components possible. Is removing upper timing belt cowling sufficient without removing upper radiator hose? Thanks for your help.

 

[nissanh]

You will have to remove the top radiator hose to see the condition of water pump.
Just drain about 2 liters from the radiator and you can then remove the top radiator hose without loosing coolant. Once done, refill the radiator. No need to burp the system.

While you are there, inspect the timing belt for any damages.

 

[WallyWest]

Just move the clip holding the hose to the engine down the hose, take the bolts out of the engine cover and slide it forward over the hose. Get a good flashlight, and the right angle, and you can see the water pump.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Typically if a water pump is leaking, there will be dried up coolant on the bottom of the oil pan. The absolute best way (not the easiest) is to remove the outer belts, fan, top timing cover, and fan pulley bracket. The fan pulley bracket covers the water pump. You don't necessarily need to drain the coolant to see the water pump the way I've described. Just move the clamp down the hose.

I'm not sure you could see the bottom of the water pump without removing the fan pulley bracket, which is where the leaking is most likely to be noticeable. Especially if it's leaking out the weep hole.

 

[idlingmike]

Exactly, this is assuming you are using factory red Toyota cooling. It will be white and crusty.

Typically if a water pump is leaking, there will be dried up coolant on the bottom of the oil pan. The absolute best way (not the easiest) is to remove the outer belts, fan, top timing cover, and fan pulley bracket. The fan pulley bracket covers the water pump. You don't necessarily need to drain the coolant to see the water pump the way I've described. Just move the clamp down the hose.

I'm not sure you could see the bottom of the water pump without removing the fan pulley bracket, which is where the leaking is most likely to be noticeable. Especially if it's leaking out the weep hole.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Green coolant will also be white and crusty.

 

[RS Dude]

My wp and other timing components have 115,000 miles on them. I wanted to wait and replace them at the next major tune up when they will have about 150,000 miles on them. I also have a new fan bracket pulley, a/c idler, belts, and coolant change to do now at my 300,000 tune-up. I didn't want to take every thing apart now and then discover I need to also replace the wp, and end up doing the fan bracket twice.