This is just a post for anyone's info. At around 52k I began to notice a slight whine coming from the engine. I put it out of my head for a while until around 55k when it had gotten noticebly louder. At around 56k it was accompanied by a slight rattle at idle. I thought to myself it sounds like a water pump but it can't be at 56k. However, after I removed the belt and started the car I noticed there was no whine and the engine was quite but after feeling the water pump and everything else by hand it all felt fine. I isolated the A/C and the sound was still there. I removed the alternator and it spun freely and was very quiet. Then I decided to take that darn water pump off and see if I was missing something. So after a couple of hours and after jacking the engine up 4 inches I had it in my hand, and it did indeed sound dry, and was a bit harder to spin than I thought it should be. Slipped a new pump in and the engine is quiet.

I guess I must have had a factory defect in this water pump because I have never heard of a water pump going out of toyota before 100k and I have seen some last beyond 200k. Oh well. Anyone feel free to chime in on this one, I am curious to see what other peoples experiences have been. Thanks.

 

Someone else on here, I can't remember who, has already changed out their waterpump aswell.
Oh well, something else to look forward to...

 

sounds like fun to replacing it i'm looking forward on replacing mine when the time comes

 

It wasn't too bad. Remove neg battery cable. Remove alternator. Unbolt three pully bolts from water pump. unbolt 5 water pump bolts. Remove the three left motor mount bolts. jack up engine 4 inches and the water pump falls off in your hand, along with about a half gallon of antifreeze. Once I understood that you had to raise the engine it was easy. Putting back together too about an hour.

 

Hopefully it'll be ALOT easier for me since I have an auto lift and air tools at my disposal...

 

was there also a chirp sound when throttle was touched or tapped on.. i have only that sound and i have had other people tell me it was the water pump. the sound is kinda like a chirp of bearings or belt... i know its not the belts... belts new.. and have always had this noise from around 50k... i have 100k on it now

 

My water pump started failing around 60k-70k miles. Seems to be the norm, I guess.

 

dang. so early.

 

i got 101k on mine 04 bsp box still going strong.

 

210K no problem! Replacement engine need one and the auto parts store on lasted about 11K!
Btw I opted from lifting the motor by taking the top mount off and used a prybar to gain some clearance..

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=242265

 

Well, good to know, I'll keep my ear to it to see. For replacement, I can always pull it off the first motor that blew at 21k. I'll probably throw that on the third one that's getting built before going in, it had 52k on it used.

 

go buy a new one

 

that's the reason I sold my box, need a water pump at 60k miles???
xb = GM

 

Yeah the cost as compared to the hassle makes it worth doing while the motor is out, it's about $80 for the Toyota part.

 

I'll consider new, hopefully I can get a good price from our club sponsoring dealer. I'll need them anyways for the new oil seals.

 

I've got 76k and at about 65k i started hearing a rattle that sounded like typical toyota valve noise, untill i got a lot louder. The best analogy I have read describes it as sounding like a diesel motor untill about 2.5k rpm. My belt started squealing at about 70k but only briefly. Yesterday I am driving and hear a "snap" and then "whack-a whack-a whack-a" under the hood. Apearently the belt got in an argument with the water pup and the pump won (noise went away!). Got it home and grabbed the water pump. WOW. I could move the pulley about 3/4" in all axis. I am changing it tonite.

So I just finished it and the sound went away, and it seems to run fine. Took me about 3 hours, most of the time was spent getting the best position to break the bolts loose on the pulley. All in all not too bad.

 

My 2005 xB with just 38K has a failing water pump. Is there a website describing the R&R of the pump? Is it easier to get to it from the left fender well or should the left engine mount be unbolted to raise for clearance? I see no way to get to the lower alternator bolt from above either. I removed the plastic cover underneath the car but still not enough room to remove the pump pulley. Could use some help from someone who has done this on a xB. Thanks.

 

You need to put a jack under the engine to support it. Put a piece of wood between the jack head and the bottom of the block so you don't crack the metal. Then, remove the passenger side motor mount. Raise / lower the engine until you can get clearance for your ratchet. BTW, the official repair manual for a 2004 is posted here:

http://www.myjdmphoenix.com/images/04_xB_Repair_Manual/

It's under chapter 16 - Cooling, then water pump.

To keep the pump pulley from spinning when I removed the bolts, I blocked it with a screwdriver I think. Just don't torque too hard or you could warp it.

I'm replacing my water pump the easy way. There shouldn't be any clearance issues.

 

i had mine replaced at 60k aswell..luckily working for toyota mine only cost me $16 lol.. ..our water pumps are tiny!!

 

My '05 xB, at 35k mi.?, gave me a one time spray of coolant in the same plane as the belts but didn't make a sound(that I noticed) untill this week at 42.5k mi.; just a muffled, random(but consistant) rattle. No chirp or squeel, yet. The best part about early failure is powertrain warrenty coverage. , good 'till 60k mi. ... but I hope that the replacement will last a bit longer than the first.

Great thread. Thanx for all the input. :D