water pump replacement - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

rtdtn · 08-08-2009, 05:54 PM

2000 Camry V6. Replacing timing belt and wanted to replace water pump while there but just ran into this moronic design feature of overlapping the timing belt cover over the upper lip of the water pump. How incredibly stupid! Anyhow, do I really have to pull the cam pulleys to get access and if so, what's the best way. I just spent $70 on the Schley crankshaft pulley bolt tool, which worked great, but would rather not invest more in special tools borne of poor design principles.

RU2CHKN · 08-08-2009, 06:39 PM

Yes, you would have to take the camshaft pulleys off. You should leave the old timing belt on there and use the timing belt tension and use a socket wrench with a breaker bar to come off.

rtdtn · 08-08-2009, 07:14 PM

Good thought. Unfortunately I didn't notice the problem until after I had pulled the belt. Got any suggestions for holding the cam pulleys with no belt installed? I considered removing the rear cover bolts and installing longer bolts through the cam pulley spindles but I'm a little concerned about damaging the pulley. The so-called factory tool from the Mitchell service manual looks like the use something similar.

RU2CHKN · 08-09-2009, 12:20 AM

I'm not sure if the bolts would hold just cuz there's a good chance of them breaking off. But you could remove the valve cover and have a wrench hold the camshaft whilie you try to break the bolt loose on the camshaft pulley. There should be a hex in the camshaft I think it's a 23 mm.

bronzemaxell · 08-09-2009, 06:06 PM

i always like to remove front and rear cam pulleys, so i can change the cam seals while i am there when doing the timing belt, dont' feel like doing it 2x incase the cam seal leaks sometime down the road.

i use the cam holder tool from ebay, works well, with out damaing belt or pulley.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Camsh...motiveQ5fTools

bronzemaxell · 08-09-2009, 06:08 PM

oh, another trick to remove the V6 water pump once it is loose, the frame is on the way, prevent the water pump from sliding out side way, but if you use a jack, put a small wood stud between engine oil pan and jack, and jackup the engine slightly, then you should able to slide the water pump out at ease.