Replacing the main coolant water pump on 04 Prius

You should have the serpentine belt replaced since it is pretty inexpensive (around $20) and there's no additional labor involved.

One reason that the labor content is high is because it is not easy to replace the engine coolant given the presence of the CHRS canister which is hard to purge of air. An independent shop is an OK alternative if the tech is a Toyota specialist trained on Prius (or at least has access to the Toyota diagnostic tools and repair docs.) I suggest that you start by looking for independents that specialize in Toyotas. If the shop doesn't specialize, it is not likely it will have access to the diagnostic tools.

 

I'm sure a higher-end aftermarket scan tool such as an OTC Genisys, Snap-On Solus Pro, etc with bi-directional support will have nearly the same capabilities as a factory scan tool.

I've been told that using an Matco AirLift is the easiest way to fill the system and to remove air from the CHRS canister in one step.

 

Prius: 30k Service

They're showing a AirLift at work here.

 

wow thats a lot of 30k mile service!

Also, i wonder if the AWS fluid for the transaxle is that moisture sensitive that filling it from the top with a funnel would be detrimental ( a way i seen done on this forum).

 

I just had to have my water pump replaced on my '08 with 30K on it. Seemed like a premature failure. Was covered under warranty but the dealership had it most of the day and managed to leave bolts loose and one of my radiator cover bolts is missing. I won't be returning to that dealership...

 

I question the assertion that WS ATF is particularly moisture sensitive as the bottle labeling is silent on that question.

In any event, the WS ATF gets pretty hot in normal use so any moisture should vaporize. As the transaxle gets hot, air pressure builds up within the case. A one-way vent lets that pressure out (along with any water vapor from the fluid.)

Then when the transaxle cools down, a partial vacuum forms. This is why, when you open the transaxle fill plug with the transaxle cold, you will hear a hiss. That sound is air entering the transaxle. If you open the fill plug when the transaxle is hot, you will not hear that hiss.

There are six black plastic fasteners that hold the black plastic radiator cover on (the fasteners look like Philips screws but they are not screws). If you want to buy a replacement fastener it will probably cost around $2 from the dealer's parts counter. Maybe the missing fastener broke when it was removed (they are pretty fragile.)

What bolts are "loose"? That doesn't sound good... However, if you are talking about the black plastic fasteners for the radiator cover, they just snap in place. It's OK that they can be rotated by hand, while in place.

 

The mechanic left a water pump bolt lose. By the time I got home it had backed out about a quarter inch. I tightened the bolt and went around the pump to make sure all of the rest were tight as well. You are right about the plastic fasteners. They are fragile but the mechanic didn't lock them down. When I got home most of them had come unpopped and I'd say one vibrated out. After I clicked the others in place they have stayed. I'm going out now to check my fluid levels and make sure I have no leaks. I have had very bad luck with dealers in my area. Seems like they get their certifications out of a cracker jack box. I'm a better mechanic than most of them and that doesn't say much. They didn't take the time to make sure the coolant level was right either. After going home and letting the car cool the radiator drew all of the coolant from the clear container and I couldn't see any in the radiator neck so I had no idea how much was inside the radiator. After dropping $22 at my local dealer for a gallon of coolant I filled the radiator and the clear bottle. I'm not happy with either of the dealers in my area. The one that worked on the Prius also sells Benzs and some other high dollar cars. I figured they would have excellent mechanics.

 

Good for you that you noticed and took action. Since you are able to tighten the water pump bolt, maybe next time you should just do the job yourself, then you'll know that it was done correctly... Incidents like the one you mentioned prompted me to learn enough about the Prius so that I can feel comfortable repairing most issues DIY.

 

Workinclassbug, toyotatechwv posts on Priuschat. If near you perhaps that would be a good choice for future service?

 

That is false. Notwithstanding the CHSS system, the engine coolant can be replaced in ten minutes by someone with experience and proper tooling. The labor cost reflects the labor required to remove and replace the mechanical water pump.