Jim Grant's Tech Tips

'00 Toyota Camry 2000 SE, Water Pump Failure & Bad Timing

Q: The service department at the Toyota dealership said the water pump froze up thus causing the timing belt to break on my Toyota Camry 2000 SE. The timing belt was replaced at 86k miles and the new one they installed broke at 88,500 miles. I was wondering if this is true or if they are feeding me a load?

- Trey B.

A: Your Toyota, like many of today’s vehicles, has a water pump that is driven by the timing belt. A failing water pump will destroy a timing belt no matter how new it is. Yours has several other components involved that can shorten the life or cause damage to a timing belt. Whenever, we’re replacing a timing belt in a customer’s vehicle, we provide a list of suggested services that goes with a timing belt replacement. A water pump just happens to be high on that list. The idea is, when the timing belt is being replaced, is to service any components at that time that could cause damage to the timing belt. After all, the vehicle has been driven 80k miles and will not have that type of service again until it reaches 160k miles. A lot can go wrong anytime an engine has over 100k miles. The final choice is always up to the customer, at least they know the possibilities. They can choose the level of service they want performed on their vehicle. This suggested service includes many components that people wouldn’t relate to a timing belt replacement, that is until they have had the experience that you have described. You should know, that you’re not the first and will not be the last to experience this type of system failure.