Date:         Mon, 12 Jul 1999 15:13:45 -0400
Reply-To:     Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.YALE.EDU>
Subject:      Re: 82 diesel cooling problem cont'd
Comments: To: GREATCLOD@aol.com

> well well
> got everything back together and topped up and running cool and sweet for
> couple days, needle just below the LED all the time
> third day it's TOUCHING the light, I'm getting nervous
> it's stayed there, but yesterday heard some unfamiliar squeaking from the
> back -
> water pump!
> so it must have been going all this time
> would that have contributed to marginal cooling?

Other than the bleeding tips you already got let me add: If the pump
bearing is worn severely the shaft will rotate off-center and grind out
part of the pump housing, while letting coolant backflow in the other
end. The result is reduced pumping effect and both a broken pump and
pump housing. (Note these are two different part numbers. I've still got
some FS)

Additional warning: Many unscroupolus or ignorant mechanics take the easy
way out and replace the correct waterpump (harder to find) with the more
commonly available Golf/Jetta one. This causes overheating. THe three
last dead Diesel Vanagons I inspected had most likely overheated and
died because of this. There are also big quality differences between
the aftermarket waterpumps.

> questions 2. and 3. remain:
> 2. timing belt not tracking properly
> it's riding @ 1/8" to the REAR and has worn off @ that much of its width on
> the crank and tensioner flanges

BAD, BAD, BAD. The Diesel is an interference engine. If the belt ever jumps
or breaks the pistons will crash into the valves => Need another engine.

> 3. sticking fuel pump
> lever arm - can it be lubed without pump disassembly?
> how?

Lubing the shaft might help for a while. Very carefully bending the
lever upwards often solves the problem. Dissassembly or violent acts
likely lands you with a $500 pump rebuild.

More info is in the list archives on all these topics.

/Martin
--
Westy 1.9l Turbo Diesel
Quantum 1.6l Turbo Diesel

New and used parts for sale, gas and Diesel:

    http://www.cs.yale.edu/~jag/vw/forsale.html

Martin Jagersand                 email: jag@cs.yale.edu
Computer Science Department             jag@cs.rochester.edu
Yale University

        Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
          WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
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