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First Major Repair

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by saechaka, Nov 9, 2007.

  1. saechaka

    saechaka Member

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    Well, it finally happened. My first major repair, if you can call it that, has happened at 113k. I took my 05' to do a new inverter/radiator fluid change and the mechanics reported my water pump was leaking. That might explain why she had been acting strange for awhile. $560 later, she's back and I'm still as happy as I can be.
     
    #1 saechaka, Nov 9, 2007
  2. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Did they replace the pump or where was it leaking from?
     
    #2 usbseawolf2000, Nov 9, 2007
  3. Ichabod

    Ichabod Artist In Residence

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    I just had a water pump replaced on our 62k mile Camry (non-hybrid). I'm a little sad that the pump seemed to die early-ish. Mine cost a little more too, but I think it might be more labor intensive to replace that on a Camry. :(
     
    #3 Ichabod, Nov 9, 2007
  4. etyler88

    etyler88 etyler88

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(saechaka @ Nov 9 2007, 11:10 AM) [snapback]537260[/snapback]</div>


    Please go back and ask for the defective parts, disect them and post pictures please.
     
    #4 etyler88, Nov 9, 2007
  5. saechaka

    saechaka Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Nov 9 2007, 11:52 AM) [snapback]537288[/snapback]</div>

    yeah, the pump was replaced. they didn't say where it was leaking from. i'll know for sure if that fixed the leak if i see fluid under the car or not.
     
    #5 saechaka, Nov 9, 2007
  6. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    which water pump?
     
    #6 galaxee, Nov 9, 2007
  7. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(saechaka @ Nov 9 2007, 04:12 PM) [snapback]537406[/snapback]</div>
    Sounds fishy. To fix a leak, they replaced the pump? Yea sure, so they can charge you more?
     
    #7 usbseawolf2000, Nov 9, 2007
  8. saechaka

    saechaka Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Nov 9 2007, 04:24 PM) [snapback]537416[/snapback]</div>

    well i saw the fluid leaking also and just assumed it was the water pump. my invoice states 16100-29156-83 water pump assy. now i'm worried. i thought i got a pretty good deal for radiator/inverter fuid change, basic oil change and new water pump. at least i hope i did. by the way, how long are the water pumps supposed to last?
     
    #8 saechaka, Nov 9, 2007
  9. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    It once cost me over $200 to replace the water pump on a Dodge Spirit... they had to basically disassemble the whole engine to get to it.

    Water pumps start leaking before they go out. I wouldn't be skeptical of this repair being needed.
     
    #9 Rae Vynn, Nov 9, 2007
  10. mingoglia

    mingoglia Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Nov 9 2007, 02:24 PM) [snapback]537416[/snapback]</div>
    The last time I referenced a traditional car when referring to a Prius repair I was burned at the stake...but I'll try again.

    A typical water pump (hopefully the Prius is the same) has a weep hole in it. The first sign of failing water pump is usually when there's a drip from this hole. As such, I'd expect my water pump replaced if it was dripping from there....now if it was dripping from a hose that of course is a different matter but in this case we don't know where exactly it was dripping from.

    Mike
     
    #10 mingoglia, Nov 9, 2007
  11. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(saechaka @ Nov 9 2007, 05:05 PM) [snapback]537427[/snapback]</div>
    probably the engine water pump. so all the service work was included in the $560 total? that's not so bad then. did they list how much the water pump cost on its own?

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Nov 9 2007, 11:58 AM) [snapback]537294[/snapback]</div>
    4-cyl or 6-cyl camry? what year?
     
    #11 galaxee, Nov 9, 2007
  12. saechaka

    saechaka Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 9 2007, 07:43 PM) [snapback]537507[/snapback]</div>

    the cost of the water pump was about $95. but i was wondering galaxee, when you change the water pump, don't you have to replace the radiator fluid anyways? i talked to the service guy and he states w/the prius, when you change the water pump, you don't lose much radiator fluid so replacing the radiator fluid is not necessary. and that's why i was charged labor for radiator fluid change and water pump. does that sound right?
     
    #12 saechaka, Nov 9, 2007
  13. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    well, it depends again which pump, which we're not 100% sure. the price for the part sounds like the mechanical water pump. if they changed that one out then you're right, you will lose a lot of fluid from that system. BUT replacing it is part of the deal, they should have accounted for that. they didn't need to charge you separately for that... so it sounds like stuck you a little more there than was needed. :(
     
    #13 galaxee, Nov 9, 2007
  14. drifty1955

    drifty1955 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(saechaka @ Nov 9 2007, 09:41 PM) [snapback]537551[/snapback]</div>

    Wait a second..been drinking :p but not enough for this thread I think...

    your quote:

    "service guy states replacing the the radiator fluid is not necessary, and thats why I was charged labor for RADIATOR FLUID CHANGE and water pump. Does that sound right.


    :blink: NO! :blink:
     
    #14 drifty1955, Nov 9, 2007
  15. saechaka

    saechaka Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifty'sDad @ Nov 9 2007, 11:42 PM) [snapback]537591[/snapback]</div>
    galaxee: i'm sure it's the mechanical water pump. i kinda figured after posting this that i did get stuck on that extra hour or 2 of labor for changing the radiator fluid when that should've been included in the labor of replacing the water pump. the service smooth talked me out of complaining. i guess i'll have find a new dealer. i knew it was a bad idea when he said i was the first prius w/over 100k and first to change inverter/radiator fluid. by the way, is water pump assy the same as a water pump?

    driftee: sorry driftee, i tend to not care about grammar on forums. i'll try to be more concise here. the service tech was trying to justify charging me labor for draining and filling the radiator and replacing the water pump, when in fact, labor should only be charged for replacing the water pump because draining and filling the radiator fluid is already included in the labor whenever a water pump is replaced.
     
    #15 saechaka, Nov 10, 2007
  16. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Being literate on forums is worthwhile, because it gives people a
    better impression of the person you might be.
    .
    Now, which of the three or four water pumps are we really talking
    about here?
    .
    _H*
     
    #16 hobbit, Nov 10, 2007
  17. saechaka

    saechaka Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Nov 10 2007, 02:14 AM) [snapback]537638[/snapback]</div>

    as stated on an earlier post. it's part number 16100-29156-83 water pump assy so its the mechanical water pump
     
    #17 saechaka, Nov 10, 2007
  18. saechaka

    saechaka Member

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    just an update: got a call from service tech and they will refund me the labor for radiator service. great guys and they will keep my business. Its Bob Bridge Toyota in Seattle. go there now
     
    #18 saechaka, Nov 10, 2007
  19. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    I changed the water pump on the ICE in the wife's 2k4 already at under 30k miles out of warranty time wise and it took less than 45 minutes in the car port. And all the coolant in the ICE gets drained when you take the pump off. Other than the thermos. PN 16100-29156 have the core in my hand, think the bill on it was 43$ and got a jug of Toyota SLLC from work to fill it. Probably lots leak, it's really easy to tell on the Prius just take a flash light and shine it on the inside of the pulley on the water pump, if there is a grayish colour on the inside of the pulley your probably one of the ones with a leaking pump. When we first got the car I put a black marker line on the recovery tank when it was cold and it was one of the check items when I serviced the cars and it never moved. So not much of a leak but a leak non the less and they are the ones that will leave you stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere if you ignore them.
     
    #19 Frank Hudon, Nov 11, 2007
  20. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    What level of leak was seen on the bad water pumps: a pool or just some drips?

    A squeal has developed under the hood and the guy at Pope-Davis said he thought the belt that drives the pump was OK but that the pump itself might be leaking. He pointed at corroded bolts.

    Is the squeal really related to a leak, and if so shouldn't the fluid level in the coolant reservoir be down? I'm not paying the kind of money where they top off the fluids. Under $18 for an oil change and tire rotation because I bring my own oil...
     
    #20 mikepaul, Nov 12, 2007
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