Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:38:47 -0800
Reply-To: Zoltan <thewestyman@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoltan <thewestyman@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: How I filled 1.9 with coolant,
was; Roadside BREAKDOWN...Water Pump Belt
In-Reply-To: <668783.73587.qm@web83607.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
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Instead of raising the front or the rear.
I have filled it with an extra hose from a higher point. Attached the hose
to one of the hoses, the top one, of the H pipe, that goes to that pipe that
is running across the engine down to the right. Those are actually for the
heaters. So, I turned that hose upward, installed a two feet long extra
hose into it, a funnel into the top of that. Secured it with a wire to the
shelf (it was a camper)
Now, I plugged the pipe I took the hose off from with a rubber plug you can
get at a hardware store, or use a cork.
And then I opened the bleeding bolt in the front on the radiator.
Now, I started to fill the system on the top into the funnel. Pressure tank
cap is on closed.
Kept on releasing the air by pulling the plug out from the pipe a little.
Lots of air.
Filled it until the rad. started leaking, then tightened that bolt on it.
Kept on filling into the funnel and releasing air at the pipe until there
was no more air at the pipe. Takes long, have patience.
(remember, your extra hose is higher than the raditator. that extra hose is
filling both the heaters and the engine)
Now be ready to clamp the hose, pull the plug and reattach the hose to the
pipe. (hose clamp is waiting on the pipe)
So, quit filling if it's not going down well anymore and there is no more
air coming out of the pipe when you releasing the plug.
Once you reattached the hose to the pipe, you still have a little air in the
system but very little and that will be eliminated with one or two warm up
cycles. For that, fill the overflow tank to the rim. If all goes well, the
level will be lower when the system gets cold.
So, that's it. I actually use the same method to fill the 2.1 engine also.
Very little loss of coolant in the process and I use a large tray under the
car for this. You can get a hose from anywhere you like, no pressure in it,
only need to have it attached in a way that won't leak.
So, any fear of having air pockets and such would be eliminated this way,
knowing that you are filling from a higher spot than any there is on the
car. Air comes out at the hose you fill, at the pipe you releasing it at,
and at the radiator bolt that's open until it's filled.
Have fun being your own mechanic.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Koerner" <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 12:39 PM
Subject: Roadside BREAKDOWN...Water Pump Belt
Volks,
Was merrily cruisin along on my way to Corpus Christi from Austin. Am about
50 miles north of Corpus Christi. Red blinking temp light, alternator light
on, temp needle rising fast. (I'm ALWAYS scanning gauges and lights,
couldn't have been overheating for more than a minute or two I think.)
Immediately pulled over and shut down. Dripping coolant from rear. Opened
hatch; coolant tank almost empty, gurgling, overflow tank still had about
normal. Broken belt to the water pump.
Luckily, I had all 3 brand new belts. Figured out which was which by process
of elimination. Couldn't figure out how to get the AC belt off; don't use
it, so cut it off with a knife. Loosened power steering pump and alternator,
removed all belts. Replaced the power steering and alternator/water pump
belt, tightened up the bracket with reasonable tension on belt, not too
much.
Filled empty coolant tank with water. Started engine. Immediately it sucked
out all the water I added. So I added more. Stabilized. Shut off engine.
Added water to overflow tank. Re-started engine, revved it over 2000, sucked
more coolant into engine, then when idle returns to 850, coolant rises to
top. Put all caps back on tanks. Said a prayer of thanks.
All seems normal now. Did I do any permanent damage? Idles fine, runs fine,
temp needle right on the LED as per normal. Drove at 55 on the freeway to
this McDonalds for WiFi. It's about 2:30 Texas time, Friday afternoon.
About all I think I need to do is try to bleed the radiator, if I can find a
place to raise the front end. Anything else I should do? System was bled and
coolant replaced about a year ago; I do it like clockwork every 2 years.
Rich
85 GL with a 1.9, 178,000 miles, off the road in Texas, simmering down
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