Date:         Thu, 15 Jul 2004 10:48:39 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Weeping water pump and driver
Comments: To: Oxroad@AOL.COM

<snip>
> Is some weeping normal? How much time so I have before it needs
> attention--any?
<snip>

Jeff,

As I'm sure your gut is telling you, no amount of weeping is acceptable
(except that done by the owner).  I had one that started weeping 11 years
after I got the van and I don't know how long it had been on there before I
got it.  I was on a trip and in Virginia at the time, so I just monitored it
and continued on.  We drove the 1280 miles back home without incident ... in
fact ... it even stopped weeping before we got back.

Well (stupid me) ... because it quit weeping I forgot about it and started
another trip to Virginia but only got to New Jersey when the van started
cutting out and running badly.  I pulled over and looked at the engine.  The
water pump was now leaking badly and had sprayed coolant onto my temp II
sensor causing the rough running.  I topped up the coolant, dried off the
temp II connector and drove to the nearest autoparts store.  I had to pay
$100 for a new pump instead of the $49.95 I would've paid to a list vendor
but I was able to put the new pump on in their parking lot and continue on.

So, what I'm trying to say is, you can replace it now or replace it later,
but later may be a tad inconvenient.

Mike