My truck is in the shop today getting the water pump replaced. It started out as a mechanical grinding noise a couple weeks ago and gradually got louder and louder At first I thought it was the supercharger making those awful noises, but that turned out to not be the case after the tech removed the s/c belt trying to isolate the noise. Ok, so then he removed all the belts. Yup, water pump.<P>So my question is, what causes a water pump to go bad in the first place, and is there anything I can do to prevent it in the future?<P>From one of the humor clippings at the service counter:<BR>"When you're a small child, the scary noises come from under the bed. When you're an adult, the scary noises come from under the hood of the car" How very true... <P>------------------<BR><B>Ken</B><BR><A HREF="http://students.washington.edu/kaibaun/" TARGET=_blank>My '99 Highlander SX</A><p>[This message has been edited by Ken (edited 04 May 2001).]

I don't know why they go bad, bu I know mine did a few weeks ago. I started having this antifreeze leak when the truck had been running for a while, then it got to where I had trouble keeping the radiator full.<P>------------------<BR>Josh<BR>91 SR5 V6 4x4 4Runner<BR>31 10.50 BFG AT KO's, IPF 900 MSR's, Extended Diff Breathers, Real Bumpers and Rock Sliders...coming soon! Toyota4runner69@aol.com

Ken did you put your rig in where I go?<BR>Hey, since it's torn down for the pump, you might concider the timing belt, unless you still have a ways to go until 60K.<BR>Corey<P>------------------<BR><B>'91 4Runner with an appetite for lightening my wallet</B><BR><A HREF="http://members.home.net/tando" TARGET=_blank>My Home Page</A> -|- <A HREF="http://members.home.net/tando/stereo.htm" TARGET=_blank>My Audio section</A><BR><A HREF="http://members.home.net/tando/chat.htm" TARGET=_blank>Toyota ICQ Chat room</A> -|- <A HREF="http://nav.webring.yahoo.com/hub?ring=toyotasuv4wd" TARGET=_blank>Toyota SUV Webring</A>

Corey, I took it to Burien, since that's where I got the s/c installed (b/c initially I thought it was an s/c problem). Doxon's a bit of a drive for me. I usually try to get Jason to work on my truck when I'm there.<P>Yup, timing belt is being done as well, thanks. That belt costs $50?? <P>P.S. Did you notice that WA state tax increased to 8.8%?<P>------------------<BR><B>Ken</B><BR><A HREF="http://students.washington.edu/kaibaun/" TARGET=_blank>My '99 Highlander SX</A>

Tax went up? Nope, I did not know. Hmmmmm, they will get us anyway they can I guess.<BR>Good move on the timing belt.<BR>Ken, stay tuned tomorrow. A surprise is coming from the land of Crypt <BR>Corey<P>------------------<BR><B>'91 4Runner with an appetite for lightening my wallet</B><BR><A HREF="http://members.home.net/tando" TARGET=_blank>My Home Page</A> -|- <A HREF="http://members.home.net/tando/stereo.htm" TARGET=_blank>My Audio section</A><BR><A HREF="http://members.home.net/tando/chat.htm" TARGET=_blank>Toyota ICQ Chat room</A> -|- <A HREF="http://nav.webring.yahoo.com/hub?ring=toyotasuv4wd" TARGET=_blank>Toyota SUV Webring</A>

i think that it is the bearings that go bad... and they go bad because coolant gets around a seal to them... so essentially it is a seal that goes bad. if it goes bad fast enough (leaks fast enough), your pump will lose water out of a hole at the base of the pump onto the ground.<P>i think that the 10 minute coolant system flushes screw up the seals in water pumps... i have often seen one 'go bad' shortly after the flush was done.<P>i had a water pump going out on a honda civic i had once ('77 non-CVCC).. it was making a 'going bad' noise, so i order a new one... 3 day wait, no prob eh? well, the bearing seized up that nite, and the pully twisted off the pump.. the center was still bolted on, but the outer 1/2 had torn off... darn, i should have taken a pic of that...<P>later.gene. <P>------------------<BR>Gene Bosche'<BR>Mean_Gene@Pirate4x4.com<BR>1988 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6<BR><A HREF="http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/gene/4X4/4Runner/4Runner.htm" TARGET=_blank>My 4Runner Website</A>

You know what... I did have the coolant flush done a few months ago. Interesting correlation. I think it's due to the way they flush it; open up the drain plug, stick a hose in the radiator, and fire. That cold tap water has got to be a big shock to a hot engine, esp the (hot) water pump. <P>Sounds like I'm reeeeally luck the pump didn't sieze up!<P>------------------<BR><B>Ken</B><BR><A HREF="http://students.washington.edu/kaibaun/" TARGET=_blank>My '99 Highlander SX</A>

another is that the coolant itself is the lubricant for the pump. let the coolant go long enough it goes bad. it can still cool the engine... but its properties as a lubricant goes...<P>------------------<BR>leo d.<BR>90 4runner, v6, auto, WCOR CitB kit,<BR>marlin duals, arb rear, tt front<BR>4.88, blah, blah, blah...

labor on teh v-belts will be free with what you are already doing and are only like $10 each. i'd do them and save the old ones as trail spares. you can also get a engine block heater installed now for 1 hour labor. yes, teh seal and bearings go.<p>[This message has been edited by surlynkid (edited 04 May 2001).]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ken:<BR><B>"When you're a small child, the scary noises come from under the bed. When you're an adult, the scary noises come from under the hood of the car" How very true... <BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>awww..that is sooo cute. no really...my gf typed that line.