Coolant Leak

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Joined
Jul 14, 2007
Threads
18
Messages
61
Location
Fort Collins, CO
I have a 93 4Runner. It is leaking coolant out from behind the timing cover. I have been told that it could possibly be the head gaskets. I haven't noticed any white smoke indicating that the coolant is getting into the cylinders. The part that I don't understand is that it only leaks after it has been parked for a while. I don't want to put a lot of money into it because I want to sell it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
I had a water pump go out recently on my 1995, and the leak was coming from almost the exact spot you described. Not sure about the milage but mine finally went at about 140K. A good indicator of whether or not it's the water pump is how fast the leak developed. If it came on suddenly then it's a good chance it is your water pump. If it took time to develop, like one drop here, one drop there, it's probably something else. Mine leaked for a day or two, then it just poured like my truck was raining. I had it replaced by Toyota and it cost me $525. If you plan on replacing it, you may as well do the timing belt at the same time.
 
I hope your trip to Carquest is to get rags and brake cleaner for the job. There is NO WAY IN HELL I would trust anything but Toyota OEM quality for something as important as a water pump. It's not a quick easy job to get to that thing behind all those belts and covers, you don't wanna be doing this again in a year.

Call CDan, get the parts from him.
 
It's the water pump.

Water pump is driven by the timing belt, (another not-so-great aspect of the 3.0) so you might as well replace it too, and while you are there, replace the thermostat.

I would normally be the one to tell you to just get the water pump from the local parts house, but it something happens on that engine and the water pump locks up or the bearing comes apart, your timing belt goes too........very bad for the engine.
 
It's a good solid day worth of work... Remove things in this order:

Drain coolant

Intake hoses and air filter box

fan shroud and radiator

the thing that sticks through the timing belt cover and goes to the upper rad hose (double nut the studs to remove them)

Fan

upper timing cover

middle timing cover (has idler bearing thing on it) You will have to loosen a couple bolts on the power steering pump to get it off.

Use starter and a breaker bar with 1/2 drive 19mm socket to remove crank pulley

Lower timing cover

timing belt

water pump

then put it all back together.... you'll want a FSM handy to check on torque specs etc.

The timing belt tensionor is a hydraulic thing that you need a press to push in. You might be able to do it with a jack under the truck...

Pile everything up in a row with it's bolts so you don't loose anything... this list may not be 100% complete on in the right order, but it'll get you close.

And remember, have fun! :D
 
get you a repair manual. it shouln't take you maybe 3 to 4 hours from start to finish.


I think that's really optimistic... Things will take longer than you think they will. i just got done changing the brushes in a 22RE alt, and it took way longer than it should have, cause i could not get the alt plug back in... Had to pull the alt back out to figure it out....

Plan for a whole day, and don't do it on a Sunday.... nothing is open when you need it..... :D
 
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