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Replace thermostat with water pump?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by climateguy, Aug 16, 2011.

  1. climateguy

    climateguy Junior Member

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    My 2006 Prius with 120k miles has coolant seeping around the water pump. I called around to get quotes on replacement cost, but one place said the thermostat should be replaced at the same time, while the other said it shouldn't. Any suggestions? (BTW, I will have the belt replaced at the same time).

    Thanks!
     
    #1 climateguy, Aug 16, 2011
  2. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    This is SOP with normal cars, and I see no reason the Prius should be any different. This is also a good time to change hoses and clamps. It's called "preventative maintenance".
     
    #2 frodoz737, Aug 16, 2011
  3. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    How much are you being quoted for the belt + pump? Presumably the quote includes 2 gallons of SLLC as well? And did you ever get the speedometer/power button problem figured out?
     
    #3 seilerts, Aug 16, 2011
  4. climateguy

    climateguy Junior Member

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    Good memory, Seilerts! The power button/speed sensor problem seems to have magically gone away. I'm really not sure what the problem was, but it seems like maybe it was an intermittent short? At any rate, it hasn't misbehaved since a few days after I posted about the problem. Hopefully it stays that way!

    As for the water pump, I'm being quoted ~$325 for parts and labor on the pump (I assume that includes the SLLC) plus an extra $20-25 for the belt. They quoted me another $20-25 part cost on the thermostat, but didn't know the labor cost and couldn't look it up right when I called. I'll find out the labor on the thermostat tomorrow.
     
    #4 climateguy, Aug 17, 2011
  5. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    I remember the power button issue well -- I like unusual problems. Glad to hear that it went away.

    $325 is a good price -- presumably this is at Toyotech or Toyautoman? I personally would not worry about the thermostat. I've never had one go bad in 1 million miles of Toyota ownership.
     
    #5 seilerts, Aug 17, 2011
  6. jdtechtalk00

    jdtechtalk00 New Member

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    Climateguy,

    When I had the water pump replaced on my '07 Prius I had my mechanic replace the timing belt, water pump gasket (a given, obviously), coolant hoses and the thermostat replaced as well. Since the thermostat is an integral part of your vehicle's cooling system it behoves you to replace this part while you are replacing other vital cooling system components such as the water pump.

    By the way, that's a pretty reasonable price quote for a water pump replacement job! I paid about $68 for my water pump from toyotapartszone.com and the labour was considerably more expensive then the rate that you were quoted for the job :eek:

    What shop did you obtain that quote from, if you don't mind me asking? :)
     
    #6 jdtechtalk00, Aug 17, 2011
  7. climateguy

    climateguy Junior Member

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    Wow. I just got the quote for the thermostat (including labor) - $171. This is coming from Toyotech. They said that the thermostat is not located near the water pump, so the labor is separate for replacing it. Given that, I'm thinking I'll just have them replace the pump and belt. It sounds like if the thermostat needs replacing later on, the only extra cost would be some SLLC, correct?
     
    #7 climateguy, Aug 17, 2011
  8. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Sounds like a plan. If you ever have a problem with the T-stat, they can either catch the coolant and put it back in, or do another drain/fill if it is 50,000 miles or more since the last coolant exchange.

    I like Toyotech.
     
    #8 seilerts, Aug 17, 2011
  9. climateguy

    climateguy Junior Member

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    Thanks to everyone for the advice and comments. The appointment is set for next Tuesday...now I just have to hope the pump doesn't go out completely between now and then!
     
    #9 climateguy, Aug 18, 2011
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