I changed my power steering pump and noticed a tab on the engine where a bolt goes is broken, so the bolt isn't holding anything. Is that tab something that can and needs to be fixed? I was thinking it could be welded.
I had the same thing happen to a tab that the beauty cover bolted into, but obviously that isn't needed. I tossed the beauty cover like I was Scotty.
The bolt for the engine seems much more important. Any words of wisdom?
2004 Lexus RX330 ~156K miles.
needs to be fixed?
how is the power steering pump going to stay attached?
I was thinking it could be welded.
Impossible to say without a photo, but cast iron can't be welded.
You may have to fabricate a bracket or something that mounts to a different spot.
Hi MountainManJoe,
The power steering pump is attached fine. It is another bolt I saw when changing it. It is a piece I had to take out to fix the timing belt cover that wasn't on correctly and blocking the power steering pump bolt. One of the tabs which is on the engine was broken in half and a bolt through a metal brace was just hanging in it. It looks like an engine mount tab.
The tab is on the engine and broken so there is only half, the metal brace has a hole for the bolt which was then supposed to screw into the tab. The bolt was in there but attached to nothing since the tab was broke in half.
Sorry I can't figure out how to attach a photo to this post.
It looks hopeless if something can't be welded on.
Thanks for responding!
that's what your questions sounded like, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Instructions are in the "Read this first" link at the top of the main page.
Yeah, I tried using imgur but it just wasn't working for me. I found the answer on another forum. It is the water outlet and I need to replace the part. Im going to try my luck at the junkyard. Thanks for all of your help, I feel like my car is being better taken care of now being able to do it myself with expert advice. It's so disappointing spending all the money for service yet stuff like this getting broken and the mechanics not saying a word. But the light is at the end of the tunnel after this fix.
I replaced the water outlet to fix the broken tab and the car rattles a lot less over bumps. I need to check the suspension parts more thoroughly now. I have two questions.
1. We stripped a nut stand on the upper intake manifold, and needed to cut the nut off. I didn't feel like taking the whole top parts out again to fix it. Is there a way to fix it without taking everything off again? Maybe some JB Weld? It is off now and I've tested the car and the engine is running fine. I just want to know if I need to bite the bullet and fix it correctly or if I can drive normally with the flaw.
2. We looked at the timing belt and it looked great. It was changed in 2009 or 10. (I may have had it changed later also but just don't remember, it would've been around 2015) I was trying to figure out if we should change it anyway, while we were in there for the power steering pump. But I couldn't find a definitive answer to whether the engine is an interference engine or not. How do I find out if my car has an interference engine?
The car is a 2004 Lexus RX330 with 196K miles. I had a typo in my original post of 156K, that is from another car I'm working on.
Other than the stripped nut stand and the question about the timing belt, the car runs great. The STFT is adjusting down, so the new spark plugs and ignition coil boots and o-rings seem to be doing their job.
I need to work on a rattle that is still there. I know the next steps for that. If someone can help with the two questions above I'd appreciate your insights.