Date:         Wed, 4 Mar 2009 11:27:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Pressure testing the cooling system to find the leak?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello all,

Well, a coolant leak, I probed from underneath, and up above, and can't
isolate it.  Appears to be in the mess of stuff by the water pump.  A slow
leak, it doesn't actively drip, but after a day there is a little wetness on
the ground about the size of 5 quarters.  '89 Syncro, stock 2.1 WBX.

Some other characteristics:
- couple of months ago I posted about a problem with the alternator mounting
bracket, the bolts were missing, so it was rattling around (I
know...silliness, drove it for some weeks in that condition:  "hey something
is rattling, have to check that"  Repeat daily).  Anyway I did fix that.
- recently the coolant 4 prong distributor/junction black plastic thingy
broke, fixed it with the GoWesty replacement stainless steel part.
- had a new water pump exactly 3 years ago this month.

So I have an air compressor, and am considering putting pressure into the
system via some rig of hoses, to isolate the leak.  Any suggestions on how
many pounds of pressure to apply?  I have a good pressure control valve I
use for the paint gun, so I can regulate it well.

Also, is it possible that perhaps this vibrating alternator could have had
an effect on the water pump bearing / seal?
Could I have made the belt too tight when I reinstalled the alternator,
could that have caused the water pump to fail.
Are the different quality water pumps?  The replacement 3 years ago was from
some shop when I got stuck on a Sunday in the middle of LA, and I was very
very lucky that day, they really helped me out, nothing at all against the
great help they provided, but still am wondering if perhaps they used a
lower quality unit or something.

Thanks very much.
Roland