Overheating

[jj95prado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jj95prado]

Last night drove from the airport in Canberra to Braddon (About 6 kms)
Car overheated, got to red line, and I pulled over and stopped.
There was no coolant in the reservoir (I know there was coolant in it to start with as I have recently purchased the car and checked it).
NRMA guy came and topped up with water, there was a leak somewhere towards the engine, down near the water pump.
The leak only happened while under pressure, i.e. with the radiator cap off, it ran fine.
Also, when he topped it up, there was some bubbling, said maybe the head gasket, fingers crossed he's wrong.
Ideas? anyone had the same sort of problem?

getting it fixed tomorrow

[jj95prado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jj95prado]

Re: Overheating

Took the car to mechanic today, having a look at it tomorrow.
He confirmed that it would just be the water pump as thats the only thing that would be leaking in the leaky area.
I mentioned that when the radiator was topped up with water that it foamed a bit and bubbled and asked if its likely its the head gasket and he said "ooo yeahh probably".
Could the bubbles be explained by air entering the system from the water pump leak?

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Re: Overheating

Took the car to mechanic today, having a look at it tomorrow.
He confirmed that it would just be the water pump as thats the only thing that would be leaking in the leaky area.
I mentioned that when the radiator was topped up with water that it foamed a bit and bubbled and asked if its likely its the head gasket and he said "ooo yeahh probably".
Could the bubbles be explained by air entering the system from the water pump leak?

Very unlikely sounds like head gasket or cylinder head . In saying that the nechanic has the vehicle and the tools to diagnose hopefully I am wrong
But if the water pump needs changing get them to replace the timing belt at the same time if it has not just recently been done

[jj95prado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jj95prado]

Re: Overheating

Yeah he called today and said head gasket seemed fine so far, said water pump needed to be replaced and also suggested that timing belt done too as needs to be taken off to get the water pump off. Current timing belt was put on around the 100,000km mark and the cars getting towards 210,000km now so going to get that done.
Is the old timing belt worth keeping as a spare?

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Overheating

Yeah he called today and said head gasket seemed fine so far, said water pump needed to be replaced and also suggested that timing belt done too as needs to be taken off to get the water pump off. Current timing belt was put on around the 100,000km mark and the cars getting towards 210,000km now so going to get that done.
Is the old timing belt worth keeping as a spare?

While it getting done, is the mechanic going to replace all the oil seals in the front of the motor, as the whole front virtually comes off, so it is a good idea while it is off to get them done too, if he gets a good kit the seals should come with it.
As for keeping the old timing belt as a spare, it would be pointless because if the belt brakes the engine is rooted, as you will bend valves, damage/brake cylinders. The timing belt must be done every 100000k's or if the water pump dies, I would do the belt then too, or if the timing belt needs replacing I would do the water pump.

[shiner Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close shiner]

Re: Overheating

My water pump started to leak at 130000klm had it replaced and the timing belt at the same time.It states in the toyota hand book timing belt gets changed every 150,000klm.

[newtoy2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close newtoy2]

Re: Overheating

[quote="croozza"As for keeping the old timing belt as a spare, it would be pointless because if the belt brakes the engine is rooted, as you will bend valves, damage/brake cylinders. [/quote]
As I understand it, all Toyota petrol motors are free running meaning that if the timing belt breaks the crankshaft can still rotate without the pistons hitting the valves. Should be no damage other than the broken belt.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Overheating

[As I understand it, all Toyota petrol motors are free running meaning that if the timing belt breaks the crankshaft can still rotate without the pistons hitting the valves. Should be no damage other than the broken belt.

No they are not, there will be considerable damage if the timing belt was to break.