2004 Toyota Highlander

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Rick 386
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Post by Rick 386 » Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 10:24 am

This really should be in FSC......

How the hell designs these things ???

We own one. Have it from new. Not used much. Only has 52,000 miles.

Wife noticed antifreeze under it in Saturday. Bad water pump.

But to change the water pump involves about 8 friggin hours of labor. The water pump is located under the timing belt cover and the timing belt. You end up having to also remove the cam sprocket pulleys to get the inner timing cover off. What a huge PITA.

I'd like to have a Toyota engineer in front of me so I can kick him square in the crotch !!!!

Rick

 
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Post by Sunny Boy » Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 10:38 am

Rick 386 wrote:This really should be in FSC......

How the hell designs these things ???

Rick
Obviously, the accounting departments.

More labor is more money for the dealerships. Been getting worse ever since the 60's. And it was said that it's all to increase reliability and save on maintenance costs. HA!

I'll take the "high maintenance" old days of just change the oil & filter every 2000 miles and points and plugs every 20,000 - for less than $20.00 each - and you could do all that in less than an hour,... with only $10.00 worth of tools! ;)

Paul

 
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Post by waldo lemieux » Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 6:43 pm

Rick 386 wrote:But to change the water pump involves about 8 friggin hours of labor. The water pump is located under the timing belt cover and the timing belt. You end up having to also remove the cam sprocket pulleys to get the inner timing cover off. What a huge PITA.
Sounds like a VW diesel to me. I know that at one time the japanese and the germans were in bed together , sounds like they conceived a child :P

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 6:56 pm

Sounds like they built the entire vehicle around the water pump.

Heck even changing belts require people to have specialty tools and be a contortionist.

I had a heater core go bad and had to sawzall the freaking dash to get it out.

Good for you in doing the job yourself....I never surrender either.

 
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Post by Scottscoaled » Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 7:16 pm

Ha! Change the spark plugs. That's a joke! I went to tune up my kid"s Honda and couldn't even find the spark plugs :shock:


 
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Post by Nevercold » Mon. Apr. 13, 2015 7:25 pm

I do those water pumps in about 2 and a half hours,
without breaking a sweat. Walk in the park.

 
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Post by Rick 386 » Tue. Apr. 14, 2015 9:10 am

Nevercold wrote:I do those water pumps in about 2 and a half hours,
without breaking a sweat. Walk in the park.
That I would like to see.............

Sorry but I don't buy it. Been around vehicles too long. And having just done this job, I cannot believe you would have this entire job done in 2 hours. There's just too much that has to be removed to access the water pump.

Rick

 
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Tue. Apr. 14, 2015 10:59 am

Rick,

You're a car guy, so I'm not gonna question your knowledge or experience. However, I think that Toyota products are a cut above other brands, even most Hondas.

I own a Toyota Land Cruiser. Its very well built with a loyal following around the world. I'm not sure I would buy the Highlander, but it would be on my short list if I was looking to downsize. I will be looking for a Toyota Sienna with AWD in the next few years.

 
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Post by SMITTY » Tue. Apr. 14, 2015 11:28 am

Just spent all day yesterday throwing new upper control arms and a pair of hub bearings in my Silverado ... with 75k on the clock. :mad: I've already done the struts and lower ball joints - the lowers were smoked at 38k, and the struts were blown out when I swapped for Bilsteins at 50k miles. :roll:

21st century JUNK! ALL of it!! :mad: :mad:

 
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Post by Nevercold » Tue. Apr. 14, 2015 6:20 pm

Rick 386 wrote:
Nevercold wrote:I do those water pumps in about 2 and a half hours,
without breaking a sweat. Walk in the park.
That I would like to see.............

Sorry but I don't buy it. Been around vehicles too long. And having just done this job, I cannot believe you would have this entire job done in 2 hours. There's just too much that has to be removed to access the water pump.

Regardless of your disbelief, being an experienced Toyota tech, this is no great feat! Familiarity is a good thing.
I'm not the fastest either :)


 
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Post by gaw » Wed. Apr. 15, 2015 6:32 am

52,000 miles for a water pump is not good in my book no matter how long it takes to replace.

What type of antifreeze does Toyota use? There are several types of protectant additives in antifreeze nowadays and lots of folks like to blame the antifreeze on everything from blown engines to blown headlights. I have personally never had a problem with Dex Cool or the old “green” stuff, but I am curious if Toyota owners have a problem with their coolant like many GM owners do?

 
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Post by coaledsweat » Wed. Apr. 15, 2015 7:49 am

My brother has a friend with a Toyota pickup. They just changed the frame on the thing on a recall. Not sure how old it is but it is well over 10 years.

 
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Post by Nevercold » Fri. Apr. 17, 2015 6:20 pm

Those V6 engines RARELY have ANY issue. Just change your oil !!
They run quiet, plenty of power, and for a long time.
52 k for a waterpump is also out of the ordinary.
Very rarely replace them for leaking.
Always replaced as part of the T-Belt maintenance, at 90k service interval.
Not uncommon to see them last well past 120k.
No coolant issues at all.
I do prefer the no longer available (toyota) Ethyl Glycol based coolant.
But it works, and has a 100k initial interval, and 50k there after.
I bought a used 2000 Avalon, (no hesitation on the mileage) with 140k, purrs like a kitten!!

 
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Rick 386
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Post by Rick 386 » Fri. Apr. 17, 2015 8:45 pm

It definitely need the pump.

Antifreeze coming out the weep hole. And then after removing it, shaft was wobbling.

Really have had no other issues with it. What really set me of was how nice the weather was outside and I was stuck doing this lengthy repair.

Rick

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