Water pump?

[95 4Rnr 4 Grace]

Hi Everyone,

I have searched through previous threads and most of them that dealt with water pumps also dealt with overheating issues. The delima I have with my 95 4 Runner 6 cyl (3.0, 22 RE) with 186k miles is that I am not having an overheating, just coolant leaking.

The coolant leak began last Thursday with small, very intermittant drops. Today, there was a puddle of green coolant on the ground. This time it was dripping enough that I could trace the source. It looked like it was behind the water pump (as you are facing the engine) on the driver side nearest to the oil filter/oilpan area. I wiped it down, but it kept dripping.

I am not hearing any noise as I drive or any gurgling once the engine is turned off. My oil is normal - no cloudy, milky look to it at all. My heater runs beautifully, in fact, it runs too well and the guages function normally. I have never run this vehicle hot and have always maintained it with proper fluids, belts, etc...I also had the heads refurbished (valves, pistons, etc) 30k ago and haven't had any problems. I have had it looked at many times since and not been told anything to the contrary.

Naturally, I was nervous about driving the truck with this problem so I took it to the closest shop I could find. They looked at it and said it was the water pump and then showed me that it was leaking (smaller) on the passenger side (as you are facing the vehicle) in the same spot as the other side. They quoted me $1,000 to repair (500 for labor and 500 for parts). They said it would be a 7hour job easily...

I expect to pay a bit for parts and labor, but this sounds a bit much. This truck is in mint condition, except for this, and I bought it with 30k miles on it in '97. I want to do an engine swap someday so I need to watch my budget with the current engine.

Is it possible that something else, aside from the water pump, could be causing the leak? I am going to try to get some more quotes, but I want to make sure that I have an idea of the issue first so that I don't get taken to the cleaners.

Anyone know a good mechanic in Columbus, OH and surrounding areas?

Thank you for listening....

Grace

 

[90toytruck.]

find another mechanic 1000.00 bucks is ridculous i rebuilt the top end with timing belts tensioners and all that for about 450.00

 

[fourwd1]

Run away as fast as you can and find a new shop.
That's a total rip off.

And BTW, the 3.0L 6 cyl is a 3VZE. The 22RE is the 4 cyl.

 

[95 4Rnr 4 Grace]

Thanks to you both! I figured I was being had...I wish I had the ability to DIM, but apartment living and a lack of higher end mechanical skills leaves me reliant upon mechanics.

fourwd1, yep I am an idiot! I don't know how I possbily could have gotten that confused - big difference in engines - shockingly, I know better :jaw drop:...

 

[Nervo19]

Check out www.repairpal.com. It's an online estimator that also will hook you up to shops that will do the work in your area. I just used them for a clutch estimate and it was very close to what my shop is charging me for labor. My shop does not subscribe (pay to be included) on the site but the time it takes for certain repairs is pretty predictable, if the shop is competent. Anyway the estimator says $400-600. At least it sounds like your truck can make it to the next shop under its own power.

 

[purevenom1]

May want to look at where the upper hose attaches to the lower intake. That is one of the idlers for the timing belt. Mine was leaking from that and it appeared to be the water pump. leaked down enough on my timing belt that is had slipped. Got the new timing belt and pump and did the work myself in about 2 to 3 hrs. It was nowhere near that amount for parts. Not even 200 for parts.

 

[Redneck92]

I think it's funny they said it's a 7 hour job, that there alone is nuts, hell in 7hrs I could pull the entire motor. . . and have **** labeled. I haven't work on these types of truck yet but I have work on plenty of everything, my est would be around 1.5-2hrs and maybe 3 at the most if their slow. I wanna know where they got 500 dollars worth of parts though, thats interesting. Last time I checked gaskets arent that expensive, and even if that was with a new pump the pump should'nt be over 200. But like everybody else said run fast and far from that shop. Ask around to see if anybody knows any good shops.

 

[95 4Rnr 4 Grace]

UPDATE:

I found a reputable mechanic that will do it for $300.00 labor, but I provide the parts - easy enough! He was very helpful with explaining everything and came highly recommended from a garage where my friend gets his car work done. I am excited and will have it in on Thursday...

I haven't been driving her and she is tucked away. I will have to drive a short distance to this mechanic's work area, but I will make sure not to overheat anything in case something else goes...

Thank god for friends and small miracles!!!!

 

[bigbsvo]

First of all, how can you say it's the water pump when the water pump is hidden behind the timing cover and driven by the timing belt? Did they remove the timing cover to inspect the water pump? I highly doubt it as it would require them to remove the radiator, fan shroud, fan, ect. ect. ect.
So, how did they conclude it is the pump? Just an assumption if you ask me.

Let us know what really went wrong, and if the guess was correct. It may be correct but I always want to know for sure before I shell out hundreds of dollars on a gamble.

Just my 2 cents.

Bryan

 

[bigbsvo]

Oh, Mitchell shows a water pump replacement at 5.3 hours max. I wouldn't say the shop was going to charge you 7 hours but start to finish it could take them 7 hours or more to do it depending on their workload. Everyone always seems to forget that you are not the shops only customer and if they only have one or two techs working then those techs are probably loaded with jobs and then the customer that just has to wait to get something done so the manager pulls the tech off your water pump to work on the waiter, then you go back to the pump put it on, go to install the belt and then another waiter shows up or it's time to get something to eat because believe it or not, we techs need to eat too, we are not machines, you know, robots you program to repair your car.
So, anyways, be nice to the first shop, they were being realistic in a real world.

Bryan

 

[95 4Rnr 4 Grace]

First of all, how can you say it's the water pump when the water pump is hidden behind the timing cover and driven by the timing belt? Did they remove the timing cover to inspect the water pump? I highly doubt it as it would require them to remove the radiator, fan shroud, fan, ect. ect. ect.
So, how did they conclude it is the pump? Just an assumption if you ask me.

I know that they didn't take anything apart when I walked out there to take a look because everything was still in the engine compartment. I am not sure how they came to the conclusion, but they said they ran some kind of compression test and that there was a leak...no kidding, I figured that out all by myself because of the puddle that was left due to the leak.

Let us know what really went wrong, and if the guess was correct. It may be correct but I always want to know for sure before I shell out hundreds of dollars on a gamble.

It was the water pump. The mechanic replaced the pump, timing belt, and the tensioner. I paid $134 and some change for parts - labor was $300. He checked all the pulley's and belts and said they were fine (aside from the timing belt, which he replaced). I have all my old parts and it was the original pump so it was overdue for a change.

He was awesome in answering my 50 million questions, not to mention, showing me exactly what he did, what the issue was, and how he took care of it. Overall, I am very satisfied with the work and the customer service that I received from him.

Grace

 

[95 4Rnr 4 Grace]

Oh, Mitchell shows a water pump replacement at 5.3 hours max. I wouldn't say the shop was going to charge you 7 hours but start to finish it could take them 7 hours or more to do it depending on their workload. Everyone always seems to forget that you are not the shops only customer and if they only have one or two techs working then those techs are probably loaded with jobs and then the customer that just has to wait to get something done so the manager pulls the tech off your water pump to work on the waiter, then you go back to the pump put it on, go to install the belt and then another waiter shows up or it's time to get something to eat because believe it or not, we techs need to eat too, we are not machines, you know, robots you program to repair your car.
So, anyways, be nice to the first shop, they were being realistic in a real world.

Bryan

I wasn't worried about the time it took for repairs as much as I was the quote they gave me costwise. I wasn't trying to be cheap, but I felt that was a bit on the high side.

I was very polite to the tech's in the shop and understood that they were in the business of making money. In this instance, I chose not to use their services .

Grace

 

[bigbsvo]

Outcome

I wasn't worried about the time it took for repairs as much as I was the quote they gave me costwise. I wasn't trying to be cheap, but I felt that was a bit on the high side.

I was very polite to the tech's in the shop and understood that they were in the business of making money. In this instance, I chose not to use their services .

Grace

Grace, Yeah I agree, the price was pretty high.

Glad you got her going again.

Bryan

 

[4x4runrfan]

I've just had the exact same problem and I found a guy to do it for the exact same price as you got in the end. I'll feel much better when this job is done, it's going in tomorrow. Wish me luck.

 

[95 4Rnr 4 Grace]

Thanks Bryan, I am too. I haven't had any issues so far.

4x4Rnr Fan, I hope that it all worked out for you .

 

[77'911]

I figured I would comment on the parts costs part of the thread, as I just did the afore mentioned job. A $500 price tag for parts is pretty easy to get to. I replaced the following:
-water pump, t-stat
-timing and accessory belts
-tensioner roller and #2 idler bearing
-fan bracket with bearing
-crank seal
-toyota long life coolant
-sealant permatex
-fan clutch
It definitely took me more then 5.3 hours, but then I torqued everything to factory spec(dial type, precision instruments). When it comes to estimates, the devil is in the details. Glad to hear it worked out though.
regards

 

[Ricky B]

In case anyone gives a damn, I just got started on the same project today (in between all the other crap I'm doing)---so far got the radiator drained and removed in about 30 minutes. Just for the helluva it I'll try to keep an accurate log of what I replace, how I do it and how long it takes me.........

 

[401Jeeper]

When I got my 91 it had a similar coolant leak. I bought the water pump, got it tore down to the pump and found out it was just the coolant line that runs from the pump to who knows what just to the rear of the oil filter. The pump was fine, but that coolant hose was oil-soaked and leaking. I know this thread is a bit old, but that's my experience. Would have saved me a day of screwing around with the pump.

 

[Ricky B]

When I got my 91 it had a similar coolant leak. I bought the water pump, got it tore down to the pump and found out it was just the coolant line that runs from the pump to who knows what just to the rear of the oil filter. The pump was fine, but that coolant hose was oil-soaked and leaking. I know this thread is a bit old, but that's my experience. Would have saved me a day of screwing around with the pump.

And? Did you you do your t-belt as well? And all the other crap that goes with it?..........:lol:

 

[niteman]

If I may chime in, $300 sounds a hell of a lot more reasonable. That other shop is just criminal. I just took my newly acquired in to get a look over and was quoted $675 parts and labor for timing belt, water pump, all drive belts, and valve and intake gaskets, and they said they could do it within the work day no problem. I flippin hate it when shops try to take advantage of people!