Tale of 4 mechanics

1. How about providing a good photo of the coolant pump showing the leak.
2. I'm not sure what is the point of seeing so many mechanics. When you decide that the leak is more than trivial, have the engine coolant pump replaced.

 

I'm certainly no expert but it sounds like it's possible that the coolant change allowed the leak to manifest. Possibly the old coolant had crusted the weep hole and when it was changed that broke free. Either way, the ICE water pump is an inexpensive repair. I had my indie do mine and if I remember correctly the part was around $50 and labor was an hour.

 

Depends upon where you go, regarding repair price. For example, my daughter with the 2007 (72K miles) had her engine oil/oil filter changed yesterday, the Toyota Rancho Santa Margarita (south OC, CA) dealer service writer pointed out that the engine coolant pump was leaking, and quoted $600 for the replacement. I asked her for photographic evidence of the leak.

She sent back a couple of photos showing pinkish spray all over the hood sound insulating pad. This was not a tiny amount of spray, it covered around 1/3 of the pad. It was also evident that there was substantial pinkish residue in the inside of the pump pulley.

So I told her to buy a gallon of Toyota SLLC and keep an eye on the coolant level. I'll make arrangements to swap cars with her and replace the engine coolant pump/serpentine drive belt in the next month or two.

The price for the engine coolant pump is currently $56.57 while the serpentine drive belt is $14.02 at Autonation Toyota Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX via web order. I know this because I just placed an order yesterday for those items...

 

Why swap and leave her with a 2004 that's past its prime? Is only a 1 or 2 hour job. Do it while she waits and be done with it.

 

I know an experienced independent Toyota mechanic in the Orange County area. He used to work for South Coast Toyota until he opened his own shop many years ago. He is equipped with Techstream and performs an overall vehicle inspection with oil changes, upon request. I trust him with my Lexus LS430 and would trust him with my prius when I need his expertise.

 

Crazy repair cost, but I have seen mark-ups for simple maintenance like this before: 10x the cost of DIY.

Does the daughter of Patrick Wong not have her own toolbox ? Just send her a link to one of your tutorials

 

Some of the regular guys here only diy. Who is this mechanic in oc?

SPH-D710 ?

 

Is belt that was replaced over tightened causing the pump to go bad??

I would be leery as to the struts being bad too. Does rear end bounce as if they were worn ??

 

My daughter is the kind of person who get excited about buying a new party dress at Nordstrom and yawns when I attempt to discuss vehicle maintenance with her. I pointed out that she would have been aware of the engine coolant pump problem if she had bothered to open the hood once in a while to check engine compartment fluids.

I decided that I will need to bring a hydraulic jack, jackstands and tools to work on the coolant pump at her home, rather than go through the trouble of driving 2,000 miles (two round trips between Tucson and south OC).

 

I have a fullsize jack, one medium size jack, 2 pairs of jack stands and a few tools if your interested in borrowing them. I'm located along your drive to the OC in SoCal near the 60 and 215 interchange in Riverside, CA.

Just offering, in case you didn't want to lug around everything for those extra miles.

 

Vinam Auto Repair in Midway City, CA. He services all cars but specializes in Toyota and Lexus. Don't let the exterior fool you. He know's his stuff. Just don't go expecting coffee and munchies while you wait.