My water pump timimg belt went while driving

[zappa1999]

I have a 2000 4cyl camry and the water pump timimg belt went while my wife was driving. The temp went to hot and car died in the road. had it towed home. Does this mean engine is dead? I had a neighbor who owns a car repair shop listen to me try to start it and right away said, no just needs water pump timing belt. Is this a repair that an experienced weekend repair guy can do? My "buddy" said off the top of his head it would be around 800.00 to replace waterpump and timing belt. Any ideas?

[93celicaconv]

First, your water pump is driven by your timing belt.

If you timing belt broke, you engine would stop immediately. It would not continue to run and overheat because of no coolant flow from the water pump.

If your wife continued to drive the car while the engine was overheating, and the engine got so hot that it quit running, you would be very lucky if you did not damage something. Something stopped the engine when it got hot (like too much piston friction, which usually means scored cylinder walls or broking piston rings).

If you know an experienced weekend repair guy, I would have this engine checked over very carefully (cylinder compression pressures, condition of timing belt, ignition operation, etc.).

It is possible you had a coolant leak and the cooling system just got too low on coolant? Has the engine ever overheated before? How often do you check the coolant level?

[fenixus]

if the t-belt snapped then engine would die immediately on highway, is it what happened ?
those engine are non-interference, so all you need is a proper timing belt job including replacement water pump (they are done together usually) plus all necessary new seals, gaskets and o-rings.

I suggest getting new OEM parts from online dealer cheap, e.g. from www.toyotapartsoutlet.com located in Charlotte, NC (you're in CT, this one would be geographically most optimal for you per price and shipping time).

either look up the 2000 camry 4cyl timing belt threads for part listing or let us know if you need help with those, we can provide you with full OEM parts needed for this job to get it done right

weekend repair guy is OK if he knows what he's doing. with cheap OEM parts (around $250) and labor rate for weekend guy you should get it done at $500 tops.

[73sport]

Not to dash hope, but lets think about WHO is the weak link here. The belt or the water pump bearing?

Depending on the maintenance of OP's vehicle, its possible the pump frooze, the belt screamed over the pulley for a while (temperature is now on the rise) as the car continues to run, and then the belt breaks after beaing worn down by the supper heated pulley.

Examination of the belt, pulley, and water pump will tell "WHO" broke first.

Eitherway, I doubt it ran long enough to cause other damage.

[93celicaconv]

That is a good theory, 73sport. I would have assumed the belt teeth would have been ripped off had the water pump pulley seized, and at best, the camshaft timing would have started going out quickly (if the belt didn't break quickly) and the engine died. I just find it hard to believe the timing belt would stay intact long enough of overheat the engine (he said it got hot).

But, it is also a possibility the engine got hot and seized temporariy because of a lack of coolant (no pump and no timing belt issue). Nothing said yet about how the cooling system was maintained, so this can't be ruled out yet either.

You are right, though, 73sport, all these things need to be looked at to find the smoking gun.

[73sport]

Originally Posted by 93celicaconv

You are right, though, 73sport, all these things need to be looked at to find the smoking gun.

I like your thinking - where is the "Smoking Gun Icon?" lol