Rip off by Mechanic???

[94_v6_camry]

Hi guys,
My car is leaking....so i called this mechanic up and he did a pressure test,
The result was the water pump leaking and i was told by him that i need to replace a brand new one....anyway i went back to look at Haynes Repair Book for 1994 v6 Camry and in the book stated all i need to replace the leak is with the blue stuffs ( sorry don't know what it's called).

So guys is this mechanic trying to rip me off or something???


Cheers

[dirtdiggler]

depends on where it leaking from. if its the shaft, then a wp is needed, how many mile on the car ? was the timing replaced and wp too ? what i am suggesting is that you might as well replace the wp and tb, because applying the blue stuff requires removal of all. mostly labor is the bulk of the price.

dirt diggler

[Cyorke]

If the water pump is leaking you need to replace it. I am not sure what you are referring to about the blue stuff. Maybe you can eloaborate a little more on it. I am assuming it is some type of stop leak additive you put in the radiator. Sure you can do that but it is not going to be a permanent repair. Did he tell you where the water pump is leaking. is where it is bolted to the block or is it out of the weep hole. if it is out of the weep hole then there is nothing you can do but replace it or try the stop leak stuff. If it is from the mounting surface same thing the stop leak may work for a little bit. Unless the blue stuff you are referring to is the RTV gasket taht is used on the Toyota water pumps. If that is the case then you might as well jsut replace the water pump because the majorit of your cost is going to be labor.

Along the sme lines, how long has it been since you replaced the timing belt. If you are going to have to replace the water pump you might as well replace anything else associated with it at the same time, including tensioner, idler, cam, crank, and oil pump seals.

[Keep]

I don't know toyota WP's, but on the old Chev V8 WP's, when you started leaking coolant out of the weep hole, it meant your inner seal on the spline shaft was wearing out. That required a complete replacemend of the unit.I don't think your mechanic is trying to rip you off.Make sure he gives you the Core back after he installs the new one. That way you can inspect the core yourself.

[Cyorke]

^^^ Toyota WP is the same as the Chevys. When the weep hole start leaking the seal is shot and normally the bearing is on its way or already shot.