Brought the parts to local mechanic and paid him $280 to replace the water pump and drain/refill the coolant.

Total cost $520 for parts and labor.

Thanks for everyone's help here!

 

Does anyone know the labor cost for having this done at the dealership?

 

^^^$400+, got my quote from Lexus of Glendale.

 

No need to take it to lexus, any decent mechanic can knock this job out. It's simple for a decent mechanic.

 

Great, thanks for the responses

 

$3,700+ in my case....

 

I've filled my reservoir twice in the past 3 or 4 months, and after reading about the experiences here I decided to do a thorough check for signs of coolant leakage. Using a mirror tool, I was able to spot a couple of places on and around the water pump that had some coolant residue.

Took the car in yesterday just to be safe, and sure enough they detected a small leak. Water pump replaced under 60/72k powertrain warranty.

Thanks to all who posted their experiences. I never would have looked otherwise!

 

Five weeks ago, turned on the passenger side temperature up to 76F. The wife compalined it was cold.
The next day, checked my coolant reservoir, it was about 1/4 inch below the full mark. It had been at full mark for months.
Opened the radiator cap while the enigne was cold to check the level in the radiator. There was some pressure when the cap was opened and some coolant spilled out.
Filled the reservoir back to full mark level. Took a few pictures around the water pump. No sign of any leak.
The level is still at full mark now.
So what happened to the lost coolant? There was a spill, but not a few ounces of fluid.
Is that possible my heater core had that much air gap?

Will use a special mirror to look around the water pump this weekend.

 

Labor is about 2 hrs. $400 is overcharged.

 

Water pump is covered under powertrain warranty?

 

Yes, it is.

 

So on a 2008 GS350 with 62,000 Miles, it would be covered if found to be leaking?
I believe after the valve spring recall, everybody's warranty was extended to 6 years / 100k?

 

Went to the dealership and they said I have a leak also. The guy told me I might be covered under warranty..he should have just check for me since all the information was probably on his computer...

 

BINGO, right in the fly's bunghole sir

 

Came to lexus this morning in houston because engine was making a weird noise. Come to fiind out the water pump was leaking on the timing chain. My car is at 71400 miles. It would be around $800 to get it changed, I asked him about the powertrain warranty. Said my warranty ended at 70k miles .. asked him if the dealership can do it at "good will" since its only 1400 miles out of warranty. Went and asked and im getting my water pump changed for free.. glad I asked .. thanks sterling McCall lexus