2014 Toyota Sienna LE V6
I bought this car from a used car auction here in town in 2015. It had 32,000 miles on it and when I brought it into the dealer for a warranty check they told me there were signs that it had been in an accident and they would not honor the warranty.
I have been doing my own maintenance and repairs ever since. Changed the oil every 3000 to 5000 miles despite what the dealership told me and changed the trans fluid every 100,000 miles. Currently at 200,000 on the odometer. Every 50,000 miles I bring it into the dealership for an inspection and so far nothing too serious. Changed out the radiator and cooling fan, alternator, control arms, sway bar links and struts every 60,000 miles because I primarily use it for Uber and go over at least one hundred speed bumps a night here on the Las Vegas strip.
The last time I brought it in for a check the dealership told me to change out the water pump because it was making noise but shop manual says I have to drop the engine out to do that on this model. If I do drop the engine what else should I change out when I have full and easy access to everything? Is it even worth the trouble considering how many city miles I have on it?
There are some videos out there that say it can be done with the engine in the vehicle.,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6taKutDN8d0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUJLZkkgwr4
Never take your car to or believe anything a dealer tells you. Find an independent mechanic.
I did that, the first told me it was the CV axle and I would have to change both because they wanted to get paid. The second told me it was the idler pulley and the third told me it was the tensioner pulley. I changed both, it is the water pump. That's how they do it in Vegas...
Sienna Guru here:
First: Is it overheating? Are you losing coolant? The 2GR-FE engine has a timing chain, this is the engine used in the Sienna from '07-2020. The water pumps on those usually last the life of the engine, but sometimes they can fail, however I wouldn't trust a dealership that says it's "making noise", especially if you don't notice anything different and it's not overheating.
Does your engine sound different or off? Do you think it's making noise, you know your vehicle better than they do, and it sounds like you spend a lot of time in it.
I would be suspicious that they're trying to scam you. Other shop too. If it doesn't sound different, isn't overheating, and isn't losing coolant. I would be hesitant to spend that kind of money/do that repair honestly. It's not called a stealership for no reason.
If you do go ahead with this repair, take it to a few different shops and get several second opinions, without saying anything at all about what the dealership told you. Pretend it's a new vehicle and you're considering buying it if you have to.
I would have them go ahead and replace all the cam seals, crank seals, etc, and while you're doing all that, have them do the valve cover gaskets and spark plugs too.
If you'd like to private message me, feel free to look me up via my FB group: Toyota Sienna Owners Club, my name is Sage.
Our group may even be able to recommend you an HONEST shop that one of our members knows and trusts.
