1997 Corolla Water Pump / Head Gasket? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

benwelder · 09-24-2011, 10:57 AM

So here's the deal.

Bought a 1997 Toyota Corolla and it's got about 160,000 miles on it right now. Had it for about 4 months. Guy said he replaced the water pump etc... It always had what sounded like a bearing rattle but never thought much of it (dumb me...).

Was driving the other day and it sounded louder, in a couple minutes heard what sounded like a belt hitting something, next minute the battery light went on, pulled over and the engine stopped.

Popped the hood and one of the belts had skipped off the pulleys. It looks like the water pump is at an un-factorylike angle. There was also what looked like radiator fluid and oil sprayed in a line looking like it got thrown off the belts.

Now I'm wondering, how do I tell if it just needs the water pump replaced? Or does it need a head gasket too? If it does mean a head gasket, is the motor junk?

Thanks!

mobiless2 · 09-24-2011, 01:37 PM

Sounds like water pump was defective & disintegrated. Liquid is Antifreeze that came out of water pump when it let go. Replace water pump, and call it a day. If vehicle did not overheat or run hot should e no issues with head gasket.

Same thing happened to me once.

speedy25 · 09-25-2011, 10:55 AM

Head gasket and head straightening/resurfacing is only needed with severe overheating. It sounds like you stopped when the belt fell off.

If you dont know for sure what maintenance was done when you may want to do it all anyway. Do timing belt maintenance with that water pump and be sure you'll stay running all winter. Dont forget the hose that attaches to the back of the water pump!

-SP

benwelder · 09-25-2011, 11:59 AM

Sweet. Thanks guys.

Got the water pump off today. Found the write up on here by ganda1f. It's great!

Yeah, the bearing in the pump was totally shot. the impeller on the pump had worn a bunch off of the inside of the housing, the pulley chewed a hole in the middle timing belt cover, good times....

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to replace the timing belt, valve cover gasket, water pump, short section of rubber hose.

Any thing else I should do while I'm at it?

Thanks guys!!

benwelder · 10-02-2011, 10:06 AM

So guys, this forum has been a great help! Got the water pump all changed, then while I was at it decided to find the exhaust leak. Turns out it was a typical cracked manifold.

So I am getting a new one but want to make sure I'm getting the part for the correct engine.

Read around a bunch here and seems like the best way to do it is the check the code stamped on the block. Well looks like mine has a tag fastened on it, but the code doesn't seem to add up to what people are saying.

see photo. (ok. For some reason I can't post a photo.)
code is:
2T1AE0487
SC103880

Any help?

speedy25 · 10-02-2011, 11:45 AM

You're supposed to look for a STAMPED code, usually in the goo and grime just under the distributor.

I think 4a and 7a manifolds are the same BUT they can have different O2 sensor locations and mounts.

-SP

benwelder · 11-04-2011, 04:25 PM

Ok guys, it's been a while but I finally got it back together.

Started it up, it was hard starting, idled fine. but when driving under load and giving it gas it wants to stutter and doesn't have a lot of power. Does this mean that I got the timing off?

Is the solution to take off the timing belt and try to get everything lined up again?

Thanks!

***Zembonez*** · 11-04-2011, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benwelder

Ok guys, it's been a while but I finally got it back together.

Started it up, it was hard starting, idled fine. but when driving under load and giving it gas it wants to stutter and doesn't have a lot of power. Does this mean that I got the timing off?

Is the solution to take off the timing belt and try to get everything lined up again?

Thanks!

Timing being off is a real possibility. Certainly the first thing I would check.

benwelder · 11-06-2011, 02:39 PM

OK. So the timing might have been a little off, also one of the spark plug wires was missing an end so that didn't help. Replaced the plugs and wires, seems to run fine now. Now the only issue is that it doesn't seem like the coolant is flowing through the engine. It comes up to temperature fine but the hose going from the thermostat never get's warm and you never get any heat. I pulled out the thermostat and boiled it and right at about 180 sure enough it opens up. What gives? Any thoughts?

benwelder · 11-08-2011, 07:44 AM

Anyone? Any thoughts? You guys have been a big help so far!

Woz2000 · 11-08-2011, 07:11 PM

Could just be air in the system since you changed the coolant recently.

Try taking the radiator cap off while the car is cold and let it run until it warmed up. Put the cap back on.

Don't know if it helps, but I also bounce on the car a few times to try to shake the bubbles loose.

Took me a few start/stop cycles before I got heat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by benwelder

Anyone? Any thoughts? You guys have been a big help so far!