Water pump
Hello, I just bought a 2013 RAV4 XLE AWD, Toyota certified preowned, 1 previous owner, leased. The problem I am having is that I just noticed on the CarFax that the water pump was replaced at only 35,000 prior to sale. I've never heard of this. Is this a red flag for the vehicle? Did I buy a car that will be a lemon down the road? Why does a water pump need to be replaced so soon? is this something I should worry about? All of my previous cars have never needed this service done so soon. Please advise. Thanks for your help.
My car has 35000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi, thanks for writing in. The water pump is not a common part to get replaced so soon, unless the water pump had a leak from another cause. I recommend checking the vehicle cooling system to make sure it is clean and no signs of overheating are present. You should have no problems.
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The average cost for a Toyota RAV4 Water Pump Replacement is between $467 and $556. Labor costs are estimated between $199 and $250 while parts are priced between $268 and $306.
About Water Pump Replacement
A failing water pump can also leak causing further loss of coolant. Water pumps are designed to last at least 100,000 miles, however, if your water pump fails, you should replace it with a high-quality original-equipment level unit.
Taking all these points into consideration, you can expect to pay anywhere from $375 to $787 (including parts and labor).
When a water pump completely fails, it is no longer able to move coolant through the engine; this causes it to overheat. If you see steam, pull over immediately and call your mechanic for assistance — continuing to drive with an overheated engine can damage it to the point that it will need to be completely replaced.
The water pump is one of the vehicle components that may never require replacement if your vehicle is well-taken care of. You can own a car for over 15 years and never have to replace the water pump. That`s not to say that it can`t develop a problem.
Age and wear
Like all moving and rotating components, brushes wear and windings short. The most common cause of water pump failure is simply from age and wear of its electric motor. Over time, most parts in a car or truck, auxiliary pumps included, start to break down due to constant wear and tear.
With the engine off, open your hood and locate the water pump pulley. With gloves on, grab it and wiggle it back and forth. There should be no movement, if there is, this along with the noise is a good indication you may have a water pump problem.
Water pumps are driven by the timing belt and usually last around 100,000-150,000 kilometres. Most manufacturers do a good job of making quality pumps, so it is fairly unlikely that you`ll run into trouble with one.
Replacing a water pump is difficult and best handled by a professional. In some vehicles, the timing belt is used to turn the water pump so installing one yourself can damage the engine if done incorrectly.
Is It Worth Fixing My Water Pump? Absolutely, unless your engine has significant damage from overheating. If your vehicle is in good shape and you plan to keep it on the road for a while, it is crucial that you get the water pump replaced as soon as possible in order to prevent much greater damage.
Fuel Savings and Noise Reduction
While the amount of the efficiency loss is small, it`s fair to say that replacing an older water pump can lead to a small increase in engine efficiency and fuel economy. A new water pump can also reduce engine noise. Again, older pumps likely have a bearing with some wear and tear.
The shaft seal can leak from age, overheating, or bearing failure. Water pump noise is caused by bearing wear or the impeller striking the housing after bearing failure. The following conditions can cause water pump failure, corrosion, or other cooling system damage: Using the wrong type of coolant.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Can a jeep run and drive without a water pump??
ANSWER : Driving or running the engine without the water pump working to circulate the coolant through the motor will cause the motor to overheat and may damage the engine costing thousands of dollars versus using a tow truck to take the vehicle to the shop that will cost a lot less. I would not recommend running the engine more than a few minutes at a time or you will overheat it.
My water pump is leaking but I replaced timing belt and pump a year ago. Can I just replace the water pump this time?
ANSWER : Hello. You can just replace the water pump in this case. Although, the cost of just the timing belt is fairly negligible in comparison to the total labor of the job. My estimator says the water pump is a 6.5 hour job. Multiply that by whatever the shop rate is and you have the total labor without parts. You end up saving about $100 or less on parts if you only replace the pump.
The deciding factor will be the condition of the timing belt. If it has problems, you won’t be saving yourself any money by reusing it. In addition, there are seals and pulleys that may need to be replaced as well.
Assuming all the related parts were replaced the first time around, there isn’t a reason you can’t reuse them. I would say you should weigh the savings of reusing them against the actual condition of the parts. This is best determined after a complete disassembly. Keep in mind, time estimates will vary a bit depending on many factors. Either way, the labor is the largest cost.
If you would like to have the water pump replaced, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to perform this service at your convenience.
My car still overheats, I replaced water pump and thermostat, and now after water pump install it knocks bad
ANSWER : Hi there:
Trying to diagnose an overheating issue remotely is incredibly difficult. However, there are three things you can do to attempt to solve this issue. First, remove the water pump, verify it’s the right replacement part and reinstall with new gaskets. Second, flush the radiator coolant fully, as the issue could be caused by an obstruction inside the heater core or other coolant lines. Third, make sure to check all electrical connections to the radiator sensors and components. If you check and complete all three of those tasks, and you still have overheating problems, contact a professional mobile mechanic to complete a car is overheating inspection.
I have a 00 deville I just changed the water pump housing and water pump the thermostat and radiator the upper and lower radiator 2000 Cadillac De Ville
ANSWER : Hi there – I suspect your radiator is clogged or otherwise corroded so that it is not shedding heat as efficiently as it should. Idling with the heater on was getting rid of heat without loading the radiator. When you’re driving, the engine is generating more heat than both the heater and radiator can get rid of. Checking the difference between hot coolant going to the radiator (top hose), and going back into the engine (bottom hose) may show that there is very little temperature difference. This means the radiator is not doing it’s job, and need to be professionally cleaned or replaced. Good diagnostic effort on your part to avoid the obvious "it’s another Northstar head gasket" diagnosis! For confirmation, I would recommend an overheating inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
I had my timing belt and water pump replaced 45000 miles ago. Now I am told I need to replace water pump. Is this normal?
ANSWER : Hello there, 45,000 miles is a short lifespan for a water pump on your 2000 Honda Odyssey. There are a few reasons the water pump will need to be replaced, such as a pump bearing failure, water pump seal leak, or rust/contamination damaging the pump. Faults such as rust or particles in the cooling system are formed in the cooling system over time and the parts break down, or regular coolant flushes are not performed. These particles can cause the pump to fail prematurely. It would be a good idea to ask why the water pump needs to be replaced or take note of any symptoms you are experiencing with the car before moving forward with this. If you would like to have an expert give you a second opinion on this, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to inspect the car and replace the water pump if necessary.
My water pump just dumped all its fluid. Is it safe to drive my truck if I fill it back up with water without a new pump?
ANSWER : Anytime there is no or low coolant in a vehicle, it can be very harmful to the engine. Low coolant can cause a seized engine or a blown head gasket.
It is recommended that you have the vehicle towed to a location to have the cooling system repaired. If you can, refill the engine with coolant, and if the fluid does not run out as quickly as you put it in, then you may be able to drive a short distance to a safe location, but it is not recommended.
If you need assistance, get a mobile mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect and determine the source of the leak, and replace the water pump, if needed.
Does the water pump need to be replaced if the water pump belt is showing signs of wear? Or just the belt?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. There is no reason to replace the water pump every time the belt is changed, unless the pump itself is damaged or not working properly. The belt may show signs of wear which is fairly common between 80k-100k miles. I would not recommend putting the belt service off as this can cause major damage if the belt were to snap. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to inspect your belts to determine when and if they would need to be replaced, while at the same time inspecting your water pump and cooling system to be sure there are no issues with it.
the timing belt was replaced at 102K miles but they didnt do the water pump. now has 125k miles and how much is it for water pump
ANSWER : If the water pump is not leaking, I would recommend replacing it when it begins to fail. If the water pump is part of the timing belt job and was not done, this will likely cost the same amount as the timing belt cost as the timing belt will require removal again in order to replace the water pump. Due to the high cost of this repair, I would recommend holding off on the water pump unless it shows signs of failure such as leaks or noise.
