Date: Mon, 15 May 2017 12:33:24 -0400
Reply-To: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Fwd: What can go wrong.....
In-Reply-To: <CY1PR20MB002978FAEBAF1420CC167DCBA0E10@CY1PR20MB0029.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
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Thanks Dennis,
As always, I appreciate your input highly. I will have to put the belts
back right, add coolant and secure the dipstick tube and then I
will have a look at what the damage is. I'm sure the coolant leak will
identify itself shortly there after.
Thanks,
Steven
91 Westy
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 15, 2017 at 10:50 AM
Subject: RE: What can go wrong.....
To: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@gmail.com>, "vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM" <
vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
There was some time between the belt failing and the overheat situation. A
key point is that once the water pump stops the gauge will not register the
overheating until after the boiling over begins. The engine at this point
has suffered a trauma and you may get away with for now some damage has
been done. Had gasket and stud failures along with cracks are often the
result of past traumas.
Since this was an accident (non-collision) there may be some coverage if
you have compensation insurance. As part of the repair effort you need to
inspect-test all those plastic parts in addition to the hoses and also the
radiator and heater cores. If you still have the plastic coolant pipes
remove the hoses and inspect the ends. These events are the main reason
they fail.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Steven Johnson
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2017 10:13 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: What can go wrong.....
Well, it happened, the patient is a 91 Westfalia. I had left a rag in the
engine compartment after topping of the power steering reservoir with the
Castrol Dextron ATF.
So, in the short
term, it knocked out the bracket holding the dipstick. At the time that
was the only damage
done. So I fixed this by tie-wrapping the bracket out of the way of the
moving belts.
Fast-forward to yesterday, I took a road trip from Durham, NC up to Laurel,
MD without issue.
But on the way back my battery/alt. light came on steady and shortly after
the coolant light began to blink and the gauge went up toward critical
red. I took my foot off the accelerator and was able to coast off on a
exit and right into a gas station. By the time I got out and took a look
behind I could see coolant spurting out. Looks like I lost maybe a quart
or so. I could not tell where it had sprayed from at all. The
alternator/waterpump belt
was completely shredded and the power steering pump belt was off but looks
okay as is the AC belt.
I thought about getting the spare belts out but I had a long way to go and
by the time I got it
done I don't think I could have driven back without some sleep time. So,
I opted for
a AAA flatbed home. (Especially since I had to go to work Monday. I was
covered for the
first 100 miles but the second I had to fork out $4.00 per mile. I ate
the deal and was dropped
off at 1:00AM this morning. All because I left a rag in my engine
compartment and neglected
to fix the bracket like I should have.
Any suggestions on how to better secure the bracket?
Thanks,
Steven
91 Westy
