New water pump after 20K miles?

[larkinmj]

I took my Prius in today for the 20K mile service. They called me and said that they found a leak in the water pump, and thus they would have to keep my car overnight to replace it. Since it's under warranty and they gave me a RAV4 as a loaner, it's no big deal to me- but isn't it unusual for a Toyota water pump to go bad after 20K miles?

[jdenenberg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ Jun 29 2007, 05:00 PM) [snapback]470267[/snapback]</div>

I took my Prius in today for the 20K mile service. They called me and said that they found a leak in the water pump, and thus they would have to keep my car overnight to replace it. Since it's under warranty and they gave me a RAV4 as a loaner, it's no big deal to me- but isn't it unusual for a Toyota water pump to go bad after 20K miles?
[/b]

Mike,

Yes it is unusual and that's why warranties are a good thing. A working water pump is very important in a Prius as there are two separate cooling loops. The normal one for the engine (ICE) and a second one that mainly cools the "Inverter" (power electronics package to generate various voltages from the 200 volt traction battery). The inverter is an expensive part to replace.

JeffD

[tochatihu]

I would like to know which pump this is. The (mechanical) engine coolant pump is based on a cheap-looking impeller, but I have not heard of them leaking etc. At least one person suggests a precautionary replacement of this part (but long after 20k!). I guess there is another electrical pump serving the cabin heater, for when the engine is stopped. A few electrical inverter coolant pumps have failed, giving the software a chance to disable the inverters before they get too hot. The pump that transfers engine coolant to/from the thermos has not been completely trouble free.

So overall there seem to be 4 items that could be called water pumps. Is this correct?

[Frank Hudon]

Just 2 weeks ago I was doing an oil change and pre trip inspection on the wife's 2k4 and noticed pink residue on the bottom of the A/C pump and got the light and sure enough the water pump on the ICE has leaked. Not now but it has, so checked the level on the coolant recovery tank and it was ok. I put a black dot on the tank when we first bought the car, and as I'm the only one who's ever serviced it, I could see that if it leaked a lot it would be down but it wasn't. As we were going on holidays I bought a water pump and put it in the back of the car and a 4 liter jug of distilled water and as I always take tools with me made sure I had enough to change it on the side of the road if necessary. Home now and it still hasn't leaked anymore so I suspect that it won't now I have a water pump on hand. Same water pump as on the Yaris Echo and G1 and G2 Prius. I'd love to know what the flat rate is for changing it, I figured that I could do a road side change in about 15 minutes.

[larkinmj]

I haven't picked up my car yet, but I talked to the service dept. and it was in fact the water pump for the ICE. They agreed that it was unusual for one to go after 20K miles, but they have replaced a few of them at similar intervals.

[Frank Hudon]

it's really easy to check all you need is a flashlight and shine it on the inside of the pulley, if it's black and shiny no problem, if it has a gray/pinkish tinge to it, it's leaked.

[galaxee]

it's uncommon, yes, but not unheard of. DH has done a couple on the echos. no need for 99.9% of us to get worked up about, but a possibility.

btw, that's a great dealership that picked that out for you and did it right away. they usually will wait for a customer complaint about the issue to do anything about it.

[WFO]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Jun 30 2007, 12:40 PM) [snapback]470626[/snapback]</div>

it's really easy to check all you need is a flashlight and shine it on the inside of the pulley, if it's black and shiny no problem, if it has a gray/pinkish tinge to it, it's leaked.
[/b]

I'm not so sure how "uncommon" it is. My friends 06 just started leaking. 23K miles.

It's uncommon for water pumps in general to leak at this milage. But I would suggest that this particular pump on our cars does in fact have a higher than normal failure rate.

Keeping an eye on mine. (30k)

[Sonny Jim]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(WFO @ Aug 31 2007, 04:22 AM) [snapback]504799[/snapback]</div>

It's uncommon for water pumps in general to leak at this milage. But I would suggest that this particular pump on our cars does in fact have a higher than normal failure rate. [/b]

On what data are you basing that assertion?

Only the OP and one other member (Frank Hudon) posted regarding a problem; we know that Frank's was not a "failure", and the OP's may not have been either. My search of the site showed one other post regarding a water pump issue, this on a site with 28K+ members. Including your friend, we are at four, and still without any confirmed failures.

I'm not trying to be confrontational, but statements such as yours should be supported.

[AOV]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ Jun 29 2007, 05:00 PM) [snapback]470267[/snapback]</div>

I took my Prius in today for the 20K mile service. They called me and said that they found a leak in the water pump, and thus they would have to keep my car overnight to replace it. Since it's under warranty and they gave me a RAV4 as a loaner, it's no big deal to me- but isn't it unusual for a Toyota water pump to go bad after 20K miles?
[/b]

Not commenting on the water pump issue, just that its good to know that a dealership would give you a loaner, while they are fixing your car. Is this common? Is it just when warranty work has to be done? I was already impressed when they informed me that they have a shuttle service for people to be taken back home and then returned to pick up their car. Unfortunately, I live too far off their shuttle route.