How to Replace the Water Pump in a Toyota Camry

The water pump is the heart of the Toyota Camry's cooling system, circulating the coolant. Make sure to change out a faulty water pump, which could cause the engine to overheat, resulting in serious damage.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. 1MZ-FE Camry Engine

   • 1

     Disconnect the negative cable on the car battery before you begin. You need to wait at least 90 seconds before beginning the process of removing the water pump after disconnecting the battery cable.

   • 2

     Place a drain pan underneath the radiator. When the engine is cool, drain the cooling system from the radiator into the pan.

   • 3

     Remove the timing belt and the #2 idler pulley. Take off the 3 clamps from the rear timing belt cover and remove the engine wire. Then take off the rear timing belt cover and remove the water pump from the engine.

   • 4

     Add liquid sealer to the gasket to the water pump, the water pump itself and the engine block. Install the new water pump, tightening the bolts to 53 inch pounds (6 Nm). Install the rear timing belt cover, tightening the bolts to 74 inch pounds (9 Nm).

   • 5

     Reconnect the engine wire and the 3 clamps to the rear timing belt cover and reinstall the #2 idler pulley, tightening the bolts to 32 foot pounds (43 Nm).

   • 6

     Line up the knock pin on the camshaft with the knock pin hole on the camshaft pulley while the flange side of the right-hand camshaft pulley is facing outward. Insert the bolt and tighten to 65 foot pounds (88 Nm).

   • 7

     Line up the knock pin on the camshaft with the knock pin hole on the camshaft pulley while the flange side of the left-hand camshaft pulley is facing inward. Insert the bolt and tighten to 94 foot pounds (125 Nm).

   • 8

     Attach the timing belt and reattach the negative battery cable. Refill the cooling system with coolant to the proper levels. Start the engine and check for leaks when the engine reaches normal operating temperatures.

   2AZ-FE Camry Engines

   • 1

     Disconnect the negative cable on the car battery before you begin and drain the coolant from the radiator.

   • 2

     Remove the RH front wheel, the RH fender apron seal, the RH engine stay brackets and engine stay, the Engine stabilizer control rod and alternator, the water pump pulley and assembly.

   • 3

     Install a new gasket onto the water pump and attach the water pump assembly, tightening the bolts to 80 inch pounds (9.0 Nm).

   • 4

     Attach the water pump pulley, the alternator, the engine stabilizing control rod and mounting bracket, the engine mounting stay and the right front apron wheel along with the seal.

   • 5

     Attach the timing belt and reattach the negative battery cable. Refill the cooling system with coolant to the proper levels. Start the engine and check for leaks when the engine reaches normal operating temperatures.

Tips & Warnings

• Loud noises coming from the cooling system could be a sign that your water pump needs replacing. A leak in the coolant may also be an indicator. You can expect that a water pump will need to be changed every 70 to 100 thousand miles or so in a Toyota vehicle.

• Disconnecting the negative battery cable may reset the onboard computer system or parts of the computer system, so be aware that you may have to reset certain settings.

• Never attempt to drain the radiator when the engine is hot. The steam and the hot coolant within the radiator can cause serious burns.