Water Pump Problem

I have some weird rattles too, not to many now that the weather is warm. A lot of the Gen3 cars have interior rattles, some of the Gen2 cars do also, I don't like them but they won't effect drivability or reliability. If you look at some of the "rattle threads" you will find ways some of us have fixed at least a few of them.

The water pump is a different matter, as you said when that happens you are stopped. Fortunately yours is the first such problem I have heard about on this forum. I suspect now that it is fixed your Prius will be just as reliable as the rest of ours are.

The only reliability problem I have heard about with the Gen3 is the 12V battery. A lot of people have reported dead 12V batteries after leaving the car for a few days, no one knows why yet. Fortunately a jump start usually gets them going again.

After a few thousand more good reliable miles you may feel better about your Prius.

 

There's actually a TSB for water pump issues. They have improved the part now (which all if the newer cars have). So, no worries folks.

 

Josh,

Now you have me worried! Getting stranded really sucks, especially if it takes several days to get a replacement part. I imagine the failure rate of the original part can't be that high, or we would have probably heard of more folks with the problem. However, do you have any idea of what the failure rate is and approximately when they started installing the new part in "newer" cars? Thanks!

 

MODEL PLANT PRODUCTION CHANGE EFFECTIVE VIN*​

Tsutsumi 1 JTDKN3DU#A0108813


Prius Tsutsumi 2 JTDKN3DU#A1140374

Toyota Auto Body JTDKN3DU#A5106915

* Underlined number in VIN (11th digit) represents assembly plant line code.​

All VIN'S prior to those above have the *old* style water pump.​

​

 

Thanks for the VIN numbers ! :rockon:
Now my VIN ends with 11025xx, that means I have the old-style water pump, what happens if it fails just when I am out of warranty?
Is there a way to have it replaced before that?

 

Very welcome. No way to get early replacement that I am aware of. It's covered under 5yr/60k mile warranty, so you've got plenty of time. If it's like any other Toyota waterpump it will fail well before then.

 

Worries for me. I bought mine last June before the "improvements".

This doesn't make me feel good at all but thanks for the heads up.

 

If it makes you feel any better, my car has the older pump too.

 

thanks for the info,, its good of you.
what does this "Tsutsumi 1 " etc,, mean ...assy plant name?

my 1/10 prod date, 1154390 is the new pump if i read this correctly?

i really like my Gen 3,, my first Toyota

 

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately, like you I have the old one (manufactured 10/09, bought 03/10). ARRGHGHGH!

 

That's why they always say don't buy the first year of a redesign. No problems for me yet but I hope I don't end up regretting buying the first year of a new generation. This is an example of a "bug" they fixed even before the next year's model is released.

 

You guys do realize out of thousands of 2010 owners that go on this site one person has posted a problem? I think we should be fine.

 

Hi Josh,

I assume that we are talking about the inverter coolant pump?
For future reference, what is the TSB number?

 

hello to all my vin # a0091563 how do i stand new or old ???

thanks jim

 

old

 

My car was built in 10/09 even though I bought it in April, 2010. Should I have the dealer check the water pump? I am not sure when the newer cars your refer to were built.

 

We're talking about (or atleast I am) the electric engine coolant pump on the 2010+ models. I'll get the TSB number when I go back to work Monday.

 

That's not very reassuring. What if it does not fail before then?

If Toyota is so sure that it will fail before the warranty period expires, then it should offer to replace it pre-emptively, or even issue a recall.

 

Any news about the TSB number for the 2010 engine coolant pump?
Not many people have reported the issue on this site...