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Date:         Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:24:48 -0800
Reply-To:     Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roland <syncronicity1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Preemptive water pump replacement? Miscellaneous Chatter
Comments: To: Tom Buese <tombuese@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <547099E0-06F0-4C31-B4E4-DDED2A7B9397@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Tom,

Loosen or remove the belt from the water pump. Then wiggle the pulley / shaft. If it wiggles, then yes it is about to go, and should be changed. I've even seen the pulley appear just a bit crooked when the shaft bearing was going out.

You didn't clarify about the "chatter", but perhaps you can use a tube or hose and place one end (carefully!!!) on the water pump and try to see if there is a noise. I once heard a "clatter" in the engine while the lid was off, suspected a water pump, didn't try to diagnose the sound, and a couple of months later the water pump let go far from home (fear, pain, frustrated passengers, tow, pay somebody else to fix it).

Having the water pump fail can cause all of the coolant to leak out without any warning sign until the overtemp light/buzzer go off. Depending on how fast you turn off the motor, this can lead to damage. Always risky to face a need to kill the engine wherever you are, I hate pulling onto a shoulder of a busy freeway, many people die when a car is on the shoulder. (A friend of friend got hit changing a tire on the shoulder and didn't survive). So you may be faced with "nursing" the overheated van to the next offramp.

So, if it either wiggles or you can isolate the clatter to the pump, then definitely change it.

Roland

On Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 5:04 PM, Tom Buese <tombuese@comcast.net> wrote:

> I am finally getting ready to leave Salt lake City for Blue Hill, Maine, & > am wondering whether I should put the new Heppu water pump I have in my > parts stash in now instead of on the road in some god forsaken place on the > way? My present water pump appears to be doing fine, but has about 87.5k > on it after I had it replaced while on a road trip, 8 years ago. > > My mechanic said " don't change it as long as it isn't leaking". Does he > just want moi to break down on the road somewhere he won't have to deal w/ > it? > > I put in a new Dennis Haynes recommended Mobil M1-205 oil filter( 2-3 > times the cost of a Mann or Mahle) when I changed the oil yesterday (Royal > Purple 15-50 synthetic), but wonder whether I should run 10-40 when I get > to Maine? Filter felt much more heavy duty than the M & M's, but I > mistakenly packed my stash of Mann's so I went to an Autozone, & they had > the Mobil on the shelf. > > Depending on weather, I will be heading east/north on I-80 or I-70 then > onto I-90 & I-95 to Maine next week, so keep your eyes out for an Ivory 84 > Westy w/ large white dog as co-pilot. 2607 miles to new home, hope to make > it in 5 days, not pushing too hard w/ a 4' x 8' HF trailer behind w/ > assorted junque, bicycles, tools, etc. that didn't make the moving van. > > Anybody enroute that needs a BZ Shelf (grey only), get free delivery! > > I am looking forward to attending some of the East coast campouts this > Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter, so hide your good looking wimin, & bring out the > syncro dokas as I am interested. > > YMMV, > > Mr. BZ-what's a guy from Hawaii doing moving to Maine? (Besides Mike in > Houlton Maine)? Answer: Grandkids! >


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