Lizard

Hi folks. Newbie to this forum. I'm doing a timing belt, water pump replacement on a 2005 ES330 and am wondering if anyone has successfully removed the water pump by removing the two studs and not removing the third cover? I don't see any oil leaks on the inside of the cover so I'm not concerned about the cam seals right now. Maybe catch them next time. I'd rather not deal with removing the front cam pulley if I don't have to. I saw a youtube vid where they were able to wiggle it out on a 2000 3.0L after removing the studs and am wondering if the same can be done on a 3.3L? Thanks in advance.

KLF

Yes if you can get the studs out, then the water pump will fall down just enough to get it out. You can use a Torx socket to get them off (sorry I don't remember the size), or perhaps double-nut them.

ES300NZ

I just lifted the engine. I removed the front engine mount nut (or was it a bolt?) and lifted the engine up using a bit of wood and a trolley jack, only about an inch. Surprisingly it was very effective, but that was a 1999 model car perhaps the rail is in a different location in the later model car.

Oro

Yep, same as above. Totally do-able and what I did. Many decades of motorcycling on/off road taught me that if it isn't leaking, don't f' with it. You can do it w/o loosening the front mount on the 02+, just have the right torx for the two long studs (I can't recall either what they are, but nothing exotic).

speedkar9

Those studs will be a pain to get out. Most likely the studs ends will snap leaving the head in the torx socket. That's what happened to me on my 05 ES.

With the studs in there, the waterpump is tucked under timing cover #3. You need to remove the six 10mm bolts and (most likely) the front cam gear in order to pivot it around the rear cam gear to clear the waterpump.

Skip to 5:52 in my video for the explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c_a-ECaWSU

Lizard

Thanks people, I appreciate the input. I'm going to borrow a stud removal tool from Autozone and may bolster that with the E-8 external torx bit. Having both tools on there may give me a fighting chance. Thanks for making that video Speedkar9. Weird thing is I watched your video to guide me to the point I am at right now which is preparing to remove the pump. I didn't even know you were a member of this community and would be responding to my post...lol. Small world, eh?

KLF

Huh. I've done this job 3 times, they always came right out no problem with the Torx socket.

speedkar9

Lucky for you! When I broke the first stud torx head, I didn't even bother with the second. I knew I had to remove the camshaft gear and timing cover #3.

When changing the pump on my Solara, I didn't even bother with those studs and took off the cam gears anyway.


Your welcome and I'm glad my video helped. We are here as a community and I am glad to help people like you with tutorials and videos. That's how we all learn, and by DIY, we all save

brucelee1

iTrader: (2)

I don't know. Had my wife's timing belt done last year and did NOT do the other seals.

We got to do them this year, along with a new timing belt (old one covered in oil).

Just a thought.

Lizard

Well folks, just a quick update. I was able to get the waterpump studs out fairly easily without a stud extractor tool. I just used the double nut method and they came out after several loosening, tightening motions. The waterpump came out by removing four of the back cover bolts then lifting up on the back cover while placing a long screwdriver behind the cover above the waterpump and pried it out a little. The pump slid right out.. I actually had more trouble removing the pump gasket than the pump itself. Hope everything buttons up as easily as the removal has gone thus far.