Tools you need for water pump on a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry

The XV50 Camry is one of the friendlier cars for a water pump job. Both the 2.5L 2AR-FE and the 3.5L 2GR-FE use an external, belt-driven pump bolted to the front of the engine, so you are not touching the timing chain or the timing cover. Most of the work is draining coolant, releasing the automatic belt tensioner, pulling four small pulley bolts, and unbolting the pump. Almost everything is a 10 mm or 12 mm head with a 14 mm tensioner bolt.

The Hybrid is the odd one out: no accessory belt at all, and the coolant pump is electric with a wiring connector rather than a pulley. Hybrids also have a second electric pump for the inverter loop, and a failure there sets its own code. The mistake people make on all versions is the refill - the XV50 traps air easily, so use a spill-free funnel, run the engine with the heater on full hot until the thermostat opens, and recheck the level after the car has cooled twice.

Complete tool and parts list

Differences within the 2012-2017 generation

2AR-FE (2.5L): pump is front and center, belt tensioner released with a 14 mm socket on the pulley bolt, all pump fasteners 10 mm. 2GR-FE (3.5L): same style of external pump but tighter access - removing the right front wheel and inner fender liner helps, and some builds need the alternator bracket support loosened. 2AR-FXE Hybrid: no serpentine belt or pulley; the coolant pump is electric, held by 10 mm bolts, with a plug-in connector, and there is a separate electric inverter coolant pump that is a different part.

Torque specs

How the job goes

1. Let the engine cool completely. Chock the rear wheels, loosen the right front lug nuts if you plan to remove that wheel, then lift the front and set it on jack stands.
2. Remove the engine undercover (10 mm bolts and a few plastic clips) and the right inner fender splash shield if fitted.
3. Open the radiator cap or coolant reservoir cap, place a drain pan underneath, and open the radiator drain cock at the lower corner. Drain the system; on the 2GR-FE also drain the block if you want a complete change.
4. Note the serpentine belt routing (photograph it). Put the 14 mm socket on the automatic tensioner pulley bolt, swing the tensioner to relieve tension, and slip the belt off.
5. On the 2GR-FE, if access is tight, unbolt the alternator or its bracket support as needed; on the 2AR-FE the pump is usually reachable from the front once the belt is off.
6. Hold the water pump pulley with a strap wrench and remove its four small bolts, then remove the pulley.
7. Remove the water pump mounting bolts (10 mm heads). Note that they may be different lengths - lay them out in order. Disconnect any bypass or heater hose attached to the pump housing.
8. Break the pump loose with light prying at a casting boss only. Never pry on the sealing face.
9. Scrape and clean the block sealing surface with a plastic or brass scraper, then wipe with brake cleaner. Make sure no old gasket material falls into the coolant passage.
10. Fit the new gasket or O-ring dry (unless Toyota FIPG is specified for your pump), set the pump in place, start all bolts by hand, then torque in a criss-cross pattern to spec. These thread into aluminum, so use a torque wrench.
11. Reinstall the pulley, torque its bolts, reinstall any brackets, then route the serpentine belt exactly as photographed and release the tensioner. Verify the belt is seated in every groove.
12. Close the radiator drain, reinstall splash shields and the undercover, and lower the car.
13. Fill with Toyota pink SLLC using a spill-free funnel. Run the engine with the heater on full hot, squeeze the upper hose, and let it reach thermostat opening to purge air. Top off, install the cap, and fill the reservoir to the FULL line.
14. Drive the car, let it cool fully, then recheck the coolant level and inspect the pump weep hole and hoses for leaks. Repeat the level check after a couple of heat cycles.

Watch out

Bolt sizes on the XV50 are almost entirely 10 mm and 12 mm heads with a 14 mm tensioner, which I am confident about, but the exact water pump bolt torque values differ by engine, so confirm them in the Toyota repair manual for your engine before final tightening.

Other jobs on the 2012-2017 Toyota Camry

Water Pump Replacement on other vehicles