Toyota Repair: 92 4runner water pump, toyota 4runner, fan clutch

Question
I have a 1992 ...3.0....V6 Toyota 4runner...water pump leaking.....My Mitchell Manual says I have to remove the timing belt in order to remove the water pump.....even though the water pump is not driven by the timing belt.......is there a shortcut?  thank you thank you thank you...

Answer
Hello, welcome to my expert page.
Yes the water pump is driven off the timing belt, this is a common mistake, what you are looking at where the pulleys and the fan clutch are attached is not the water pump, it is an idler bracket and has no other purpose than to give the belts a place to run and turn the fan, the water pump is inside the behind this idler pulley as you will see after removing the front engine covers.