Hello, about to order a timing belt and water pump kit, but I'm reading some complaints about early pump failures. Is this a known recent problem with the Aisin kits, or maybe a just user error thing that's becoming internet folklore?
Any issues with the Aisin water pumps? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter EricUT
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JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
Aisin is what Toyota puts in at the factory. It’s the best you can buy. I’d wager that most “early” failures were because of installer error or they weren’t actually “early” relative to timing belt service interval.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks!
I buy Aisin products instead of Toyota, same exact quality for less price. You might be surprise to see that the W/P would have a spot that was grinded were the TOYOTA badge would be and they just leave the Aisin. 
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
You can get an Aisin kit locally from Cruiser Outfitters, it's what I've used on my 2 timing belt jobs, been great to 230k miles.
Aisin is owned by Toyota and they make the mechanical parts such as transmissions, locking hubs, water pumps, diesel pumps, thermostats, clutch/pressureplate, clutch and brake pumps etc., for toyota. Denso is the Toyota's electrical division.
Aisin and Denso also make parts for other manufacturers. They also sell separately from Toyota.
The quality of a Denso or Aisin is NOT 100% as a part labelled as TOYOTA, however, I find NO issues using denso or Aisin labelled part.
Here is an example: Honda's use Denso alternators and last 100K miles, the repair involves many new parts, however, a Toyota-Denso alternator can go easy 230K miles and the only failing part is brushes.
Always buy from a reputed seller. Chinese counterfeit parts are all over the internet. People who have bad experience with AISIN for sure went with the cheapest "aisin" availabe. I have AISIN on all 3 of my toyota's and still works like a charm. No issue what so ever!
Aisin and Denso also make parts for other manufacturers. They also sell separately from Toyota.
The quality of a Denso or Aisin is NOT 100% as a part labelled as TOYOTA, however, I find NO issues using denso or Aisin labelled part.
Here is an example: Honda's use Denso alternators and last 100K miles, the repair involves many new parts, however, a Toyota-Denso alternator can go easy 230K miles and the only failing part is brushes.
Always buy from a reputed seller. Chinese counterfeit parts are all over the internet. People who have bad experience with AISIN for sure went with the cheapest "aisin" availabe. I have AISIN on all 3 of my toyota's and still works like a charm. No issue what so ever!
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A lot of people here have bought those cheap eBay / Amazon kits and they desperately want to think that they got OE equivalent parts, but there's just no way at that price ($170 +/-) which includes shipping and of course a profit for the seller. The 2 idler pulleys alone cost that much at the dealer. I suspect that if you buy an Aisin labeled water pump at Rock Auto, or other reputable seller, that you are getting an OE equivalent but those aren't much cheaper than the dealer water pump. There is an inherent flaw in the logic of wanting to replace everything while you are "in there", because you don't want to have to go "in there" again - and then doing it with sub-standard parts that often have shorter life than the used OE part that you took out. Some of these OE parts have extremely long lives, e.g. both million mile Tundras needed only one replacement water pump in a million miles.
hoser
SILVER Star
It's not exactly the same... but it's good enough and the savings are worth it for most people.I buy Aisin products instead of Toyota, same exact quality for less price. You might be surprise to see that the W/P would have a spot that was grinded were the TOYOTA badge would be and they just leave the Aisin.
Denso: OEM, aftermarket parts from same manufacturer not necessarily identical
It’s sometimes asserted that OEM and aftermarket parts made by the same manufactuer are identical. But a leading Tier 1 supplier producing both confirmed last month differences might exist. D…
last year took my new Aisin pump (kit from amazon) to my dealer, while I picked up a few misc parts. He brought up Toyota WP in box for side by side comparison. Both units had identical mold nub imperfections inside the water cavity area. 99.9% sure they came off same mold. If you're a first timer, clean the block surface, clean again, then clean it again and use proper torque.
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
Proper torque is key. The bolts and nuts are not uniform torque spec.
- Thread starter
- #12
Ah, that might be the deal...doesn't surprise me at all that there are fakes, they don't seem to have any real control over their inventory and they don't seem to care
EXACTLY RIGHT and APPLIES ONLY TO TOYOTAS
I once did a T-belt job on a 02 Taco owned by a friend of mine. He bought cheap parts off of ebay. I refused to install those conterfeit Chinese parts (bearings/oil seals/thermostat/waterpump etc), except the timing belt as a 5vzfe is non inteference engine! He has driven 30K miles and no issues. If I install those cheap Chinese parts, I will be doing another T-belt job by now!
Scotty Kilmer recently showed a 98 Lexus GS 300 with 200+K miles with OEM T-belt components!
- Thread starter
- #15
There sure is a wide variation in price in these kits:
Rock Auto: $165
Amazon:$174 (sounds like consensus is to steer clear) Amazon product ASIN B008EEYWKI
Summit (who I've always trusted): $202
www.summitracing.com
NAPA: $285
Amazon can be sketchy and eBay of course is full of counterfeit stuff, but the others are legit sites, that's like a 72% jump from Rock Auto to NAPA, what's the deal?
Rock Auto: $165
AISIN TKT021 Timing Belt & Component Kit | RockAuto
RockAuto ships auto parts and body parts from over 300 manufacturers to customers' doors worldwide, all at warehouse prices. Easy to use parts catalog.
www.rockauto.com
Amazon:$174 (sounds like consensus is to steer clear) Amazon product ASIN B008EEYWKI
Summit (who I've always trusted): $202
Aisin World TKT-021 Aisin Timing Belt and Water Pump Kits | Summit Racing
Free Shipping - Aisin Timing Belt and Water Pump Kits with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Timing Belt and Water Pump Service Kits at Summit Racing.
NAPA: $285
Amazon can be sketchy and eBay of course is full of counterfeit stuff, but the others are legit sites, that's like a 72% jump from Rock Auto to NAPA, what's the deal?
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
FWIW, I bought the Rock Auto kit and had no issues.
TheLCProject
SILVER Star
I used an Amazon-sources TKT-021 (Aisin) timing belt kit. The pump looked a little off but I didn't think anything of it. There was also the chance that maybe the gasket got roughed up in skipping.
In either case, it appears that I've had a failure of the gasket after 1,000 miles since the replacement. Hopefully I can find a smoking gun when I have it all apart, but I'll be replacing the Aisin stuff with Toyota.
In either case, it appears that I've had a failure of the gasket after 1,000 miles since the replacement. Hopefully I can find a smoking gun when I have it all apart, but I'll be replacing the Aisin stuff with Toyota.
