Date:         Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:40:17 -0800
Reply-To:     neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Pressure testing the cooling system to find the leak?
Comments: To: Roland <syncronicity1@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <38e334640903041127n1ec31998ica76ecac2c485c3f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 11:27 AM, Roland <syncronicity1@gmail.com> wrote:
> 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.
.....

> 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? ....


> 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.


P. 19.17 in my Bentley sez:

Fig. 9   Cooling system, checking for leaks.

......

- apply pressure of approx. 1 bar (14.5 PSI)

Hope that helps.

And.....

I don't have a pic handy, but do the coolant pump and alt share the
same belt? If so...

It's likely the coolant pump took a beating. Possibly the pump itself
is leaking due to this.

Cheers,

Neil.
-- 
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines