LarryGolf

Just purchased a 2011 ES350 with 40,000 miles & virtually all options. Already have a 2007 ES350 with 145,000 miles, which I will drive daily for at least a couple more years. Wanted to get the 2010-12 generation with low miles for the future. Don't especially like the 2013 and beyond interior.

I had to have the water pump replaced on the 07 at 88,000. Reading the forum and looking at a few Carfax reports, it seems the water pump in at least the 07-09 generation is the one major component that fails, although certainly not at a real high percentage.

Wondering if anyone else has noticed this.

ESh

All 2GR-FE engines had problems with water pumps. They failed really early, even at 5000 miles but they redesigned the pump and there's no more problems.
I replaced mine at 72000 miles and it was like new.

sparkins

We have an '08 Sienna with the 2GR-FE, and it's on the original water pump at almost 156k. My M-i-L's '08 ES350 has 110k, and is on its original one as well.

KLF

This is why I don't like chain drive engines. A timing belt engine requires opening up the front timing covers every 90K miles, and usually the water pump gets replaced. Now I have no recommended maintenance procedure or interval to check/replace the pump, so I have to just drive it until it fails. Which it will probably do in the middle of the highway somewhere in a bitter cold snow storm.

oldgrump

Just monitor the coolant level periodically and if it drops below the "MIN" mark then investigate and repair the source of the leak. Firstly, there is a weep hole at 6 o'clock behind the coolant pump drive pulley that should be checked for signs of wet coolant and/or excessive amounts of "dry", reddish colored coolant residue (this indicates that the pump shaft seal is leaking/has leaked which can cause a subsequent pump bearing failure). Investigate any strange noises from anything driven by the serpentine drive belt. This should prevent any "sudden" failure of the coolant pump.

KLF

Pfftt.. It's buried under all those covers. If I'm gonna take all that crap off just to check the pump, I'll just go ahead and replace it.

oldgrump

If you have unexplained coolant loss and you want to inspect the coolant pump (weep hole) it is best accessed from under the car. The coolant pump replacement is a PITA now matter how it is accomplished (insitu or with dropping the engine/transaxle out of the car). Most of these cars will go to the crusher with the original coolant pump installed. And by the way.......all those engine compartment covers can be removed in about five minutes.

jkayca

I found the clips holding the covers break easy. Just keep a few spares around. Or do what I did and never put them back on .

KLF

It's funny how many of these cars you see for sale on craigslist, and all the engine covers are gone. I only have 45K miles, mine have never been removed.