2001 V6 Timing Belt Replacement

I am about to change the timing belt on my Camry, (have all the OEM parts - belt, bearings, tensioner), but was told I should also change the water pump at the same time. Is this really recommended? The engine has just gone over 60K miles - mostly highway.

Thanks,
-J

I am about to change the timing belt on my Camry, (have all the OEM parts - belt, bearings, tensioner), but was told I should also change the water pump at the same time. Is this really recommended? The engine has just gone over 60K miles - mostly highway.

Thanks,

-J

With only 60K on your camry I wouldn't change it. I just had the waterpump changed on my 95 with 169K on it(timing belt changed also) The only reason they recomend changing the pump is because you have to get to it while you change the belts(at least on the 4 cyl) I put 228K on a 92 p.u and never touched the water pump.

With only 60K on your camry I wouldn't change it. I just had the waterpump changed on my 95 with 169K on it(timing belt changed also) The only reason they recomend changing the pump is because you have to get to it while you change the belts(at least on the 4 cyl) I put 228K on a 92 p.u and never touched the water pump.

Thanks for responding. I thought the same thing - yeah, clearly it's very accessible when you do the belt, but why bother if it isn't really necessary. However, I will think seriously about doing it, next time around.
Thanks again,
-JD

just so you know water pumps do wear out. if it was my car i'd throw in a new one. if the pump starts leaking it will destroy the belt and then the engine. i don't like to gamble with stuff like this. but chances are you'll be fine as long as you do it next time around.

FYI, timing belts on 1998 and newer Toyota vehicles have a replacement interval of 90,000 miles. I am not telling you to leave it alone, just letting you know. I am a Toyota technician, and I have seen virtually no timing belt failure on V6 models, unless the water pump locks up.... this can break the belt. As far as the water pump goes, I recommend replacing it if yo are going to do the belt. I have seen many pumps start to leak shortly after the timing belt is replaced.
Good luck.

Once you have the cover off and have access to the water pump. Take a careful look at the shaft seal and see if you can see any hint of a leak beginning. If you see any deposits around the shaft, replace the water pump. If it is perfect, don't bother until next time.

FYI, timing belts on 1998 and newer Toyota vehicles have a replacement interval of 90,000 miles. I am not telling you to leave it alone, just letting you know. I am a Toyota technician, and I have seen virtually no timing belt failure on V6 models, unless the water pump locks up.... this can break the belt. As far as the water pump goes, I recommend replacing it if yo are going to do the belt. I have seen many pumps start to leak shortly after the timing belt is replaced.
Good luck.

What go me going on this was when I looked at a table listing (generic -wasn't in Chilton, but something similar) which stated that the recommended T/B replacement interval was actually at 50K for the V6 - which I thought was ridiculously low, for the way I drive this car. It's my daily driver, and it's a relatively easy commute back and forth to work, so I don't drive it hard. From what you say I would think I should be safe to let it go to around 75 - 80K mi before tearing into it and at that time, also replace the pump. I can understand the justification of replacing it then, but at 50-60,000 it just seemed a waste to me.
Anyway, thanks for responding,
JD

With 169K on my 4 cyl camry I just now had the second belt put on. I put on almost 85K on the last one. My first one went over 80K before we noticed a little noise and ths time around I just figured it was time again.

And water pumps usually go south at the worst possible time. When I started thinking about getting ready to change the T/B , I saw a chart someplace that said the recommended replacement interval for the V6 T/B was only 50K mi., which I thought was extraordinarily low. I'm not hard on this vehicle, and since I rely on it for bread and butter, I do stay on top of the maintenance. It seems logical that the tension of a new belt might be enough to cause an old pump to leak, so it makes sense to change the pump at the same time as the belt - but not at 50-60K miles. Otherwise maintaining a Camry would start sounding like a caring for a Jaguar - spending more time in the shop than on the road, etc.
JD

Toyota says to inspect the belt at 90k miles and replace if needed. I would not do the waterpump at this time unless it is leaking I have not done a pump on a V6 in a long time.

Toyota says to inspect the belt at 90k miles and replace if needed. I would not do the waterpump at this time unless it is leaking I have not done a pump on a V6 in a long time.

Many thanks. I appreciate the response.
JD

Erndog1369 or ToyotaTech - Don't you find that water pumps usually leak and have to be replaced because of leaking, rather than locking up?

Yes they will leak then lock up. I have only had maybe one lock up in my 7 years with Toyota.I have had a few Rav4 lock up and break the belt and some camrys but these are 4cyls.