Engine Code P261B Water Pump

Check Hybrid System with code P261B | PriusCh

all the best!

 

Code P261B is for the engine water pump. The water pump is not rotating fast enough. Get it replaced ASAP because the engine will overheat and possibly cause a problem with the head gasket. Overheating will occur when going uphills or traveling on a highway (60 mph and higher).

 

I'd go with the Aisin (WPT-190), from a reputable source. Plan to do that proactively (plus the thermostat), IF we ever make it to 100k miles. Most likely in conjunction with an engine coolant change.

What's the miles on your btw? They have a tendency to fail around 125~150k miles.

@NutzAboutBolts video #29 here is a good one.

Being in Canada, I'll likely go with this source, $151.51 CDN, all-in, on my doorstep ($110.60 USD)

 

It's a super easy job, there's plenty of youtube videos on how to do it and Aisin aftermarket pumps are way cheaper and not any different than OEM. If you lived near me It'd be about $200ish total including cost of part.

 

I would replace the entire assembly; because I don't like doing the same job twice.

I would also install some sort of ECT monitor, because the dummy lamp doesn't light up until your pass 248+F when nominal should be 185-205F. Your lucky to get that P261B, some people just pop their head gasket before figuring that out or run out of coolant.

Good Luck.....

 

$500 for the water pump is high, labor seems a bit high also.

It's a pretty simple job. Just fill the system very slowly, and a cup or two at a time.
Doing so allows the coolant to push out the air, and not get trapped.

Don't get it from ebay or amazon, likely a cheap chinese copy. Try an auto parts store.

I replaced the impeller in mine at 266710 miles, 4 years ago. I have 384,6xx miles.
Right at 122,000 miles ago. No issues.

 

Yep...

 

No one knows for sure. But for certainty, amazon has a LOT of cheap chinese copies.....

Why risk it. How often do you plan on replacing the coolant pump? Every 11 years?

 

There might be people who do know for sure. My only problem is I don't know for sure who they are.

 

Just have your friend watch a few youtube videos. It's not different than a non hybrid.
With a minor exception. Remove the service switch on the hybrid battery. And make sure
he reinstalls it correctly.

You can find a Toyota coolant pump for less than $500 from other Toyota dealerships online.
You may even get a 10% military discount.
And get the TOYOTA 50/50 coolant! 2 gallons. Do not get substitutes.

 

I'm seeing OEM on Ebay for $150 and a huge selection of aftermarket ones for less than $60. If I were doing it I'd study all the specs of the cheapers ones and buy the apparent highest quality build $60 version. That's mostly because the replacing of this pump is so easy and takes less than an hour and it saves me money in the short run and not much hassle in the long run.

 

Work around is to copy the Amazon link, then select a text string, like this:



then select this tool:



and paste in the Amazon link.

You can subsequently make the (still selected) text “bold” which makes it more obvious it’s a link, otherwise it’s just a subtle pale-blue tint. Finished product:

Amazon link

See post #4? In a nutshell: water pump, thermostat, and a gallon of Toyota Super Long Life Coolant. To source the pump and thermostat Amayama’s reputable, and cheaper all-in than anything else mentioned so far.

if a regular coolant change is not timely (schedule is every 5 years or 50k miles, whichever comes first), you could probably just clamp off hoses and top up after.