Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:15:02 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Roadside BREAKDOWN...Water Pump Belt-Realities!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed; delsp=no
Richard, if you camp at SPI, the area north of the town of SPI is far
more pleasant than the RV park at the south tip of the island next to
the jetty (and this time of year you would be very unlikely to get a
spot in the park without a reservation, as Winter Texans are in
abundance). You have your choice of "bay side" or "Gulf side," and
either is kinda neat. Better to drive as far north as the paved road
goes, or nearly so, and drive one of the solid access roads onto the
beach or out toward the bay. Once you get a couple of miles north of
town, the island is only a couple hundred yards wide, so whether you are
closer to the bay, or closer to the Gulf, you'll still be within earshot
of the surf. there are locals who live on the beach, and are locally
referred to as Dune Goons. They are not dangerous, but will harass
folks at times, especially folks who get stuck in the sand. A local
ordinance limits the fee that a vendor can charge for towing a stuck
vehicle, but the Goons will charge as much as the victim will pay, often
much more than the legitimate fee charged by licensed vendors.
I guess you know that going south of U.S. 77, there are no services of
any kind between Kingsville and Raymondville, a distance of about a
hundred miles.
David McNeely
On Sat, Nov 7, 2009 at 9:31 AM, Richard Koerner wrote:
> Dennis,
>
> Thanks for this insight...not sounding good. I'm 2000 miles from
> home, it's a Saturday, doubt if there are any VW specialty shops
> open. I'll review the RoadHaus Mechanics List. This morning, I again
> checked the coolant tanks with engine cold...both were right where
> they should be.
>
> Just covered about 75 miles...running "normal" but who knows what
> danger lurks inside. I've been thinking about a new GoWesty engine
> for some time....maybe now's the time. I know you don't like their
> high-compression jobs...but that's a whole new topic to deal with
> later.
>
> Meanwhile, I'm going to try not to stress too much about it, although
> I catch myself looking at my gauges and lights every 15 seconds. Need
> to enjoy the rest of my trip; tomorrow I start the return from
> Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California; a local gave me some good
> tips about South Padre Island, that's my campsite for tonight
> (assuming nothing blows up between here and there).
>
> Rich
> 85 Vanagon
> San Diego
>
>
>
> --- On Fri, 11/6/09, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
> From: Dennis Haynes Subject: Re: Roadside BREAKDOWN...Water Pump
> Belt-Realities!
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Friday, November 6, 2009, 11:00 PM
>
> The fact that the engine operated without coolant flow to the point
> that you
> puked coolant out means that the engine and cooling system has
> suffered a
> trauma. Even if there is no apparent immediate damage the engine
> suffered a
> lot of stress. Future issues will include head gaskets, loose studs,
> (internal combustion gasses into cooling system), cracked heads, and
> possible piston/ring damage. The heater cores and radiator also took a
> beating.
> Replace the pressure cap and monitor the thermostat operation.
> Carefully
> inspect the coolant hoses and check clamps. Change the oil and filter.
> Get
> the proper concentration of coolant I there.
> No need to raise the front to bleed the cooling system and in fact it
> makes
> it harder. Cooling system bleeding should be done on a cold engine. If
> the
> cooling system is bleed enough to cool at all it will self bleed over
> time
> as long as the pressure cap is working properly and the 2nd tank
> always has
> some coolant in it.
> A trick to bleeding is when revving the engine and the coolant gets
> sucked
> down, top that tank and replace the cap before letting the engine
> return to
> idle. You should be able to bleed the coolant in less than 5 minutes.
> If your
> still trying after the engine gets warm it will become more difficult
> as the
> coolant turns to vapor.
> Dennis
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> Richard Koerner
> Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 3:39 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 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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