Water Pump, Do it myself or pay someone?

[bankrobber]

Why so many pumps go bad so soon? I have 130k miles on my 07 and still on oem pump. I drive 95% highway miles and usually over 100 miles from home during the week. I am getting nervous this pump will go bad and Usually where I drive it is at least 50 miles to a auto parts store and sometimes 20 miles to the next gas station.

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by bankrobber

Why so many pumps go bad so soon? I have 130k miles on my 07 and still on oem pump. I drive 95% highway miles and usually over 100 miles from home during the week. I am getting nervous this pump will go bad and Usually where I drive it is at least 50 miles to a auto parts store and sometimes 20 miles to the next gas station.

Dont worry you got one of the good ones. I bet your pump lasts forever.

But do what I do. Open the engine hood once a month or once a week and look at the bottom of it. When the pump starts to go you will see red streaks of coolant in line with the belts. Mine leaked for a month before I had the dealer replace it under warranty at 26k miles. But the coolant level never went down any. Maybe it would just leak a little and never actually let go. I remember old time water pumps in the 60s. Once they leaked a bit that was it. They were gone in a week or two.

I do not think your Toyota pump will go and blow right away. There will be time to do something.

[OTA'sTOY]

Originally Posted by bankrobber

Why so many pumps go bad so soon? I have 130k miles on my 07 and still on oem pump. I drive 95% highway miles and usually over 100 miles from home during the week. I am getting nervous this pump will go bad and Usually where I drive it is at least 50 miles to a auto parts store and sometimes 20 miles to the next gas station.

Originally Posted by barryware

My 1st replacement was a genuine OEM toyota pump.. 1st pump that came with new car lasted around 38k.. this pump never leaked but the shaft began to wobble and it was making all kinds of noise.

The 2nd OEM pump lasted till 73k.. So I am figuring that the oem pump is good for only about 35k+ miles. The last pump, I got at autozone for 1/2 the oem price. The gasket that comes with it was a POS.. just a piece of paper. However, that pump leaked from the get go. They gave me a replacement of the same type and that one is not leaking.

BMG is the maker if the pump I think.. Maybe I have the letters mixed up..

I may be mentioned that the belt was too tight causing the pump to fail prematurely. I can assure you that it was not the case.

hope it answered your question