Dodgy service disaster (and hello!)

[Peepshow Paddy]

Hi there,

I'm new to these boards, though I've read them a while, so firstly hello!

Apologies my first post should be a grumbling, and a long one, but I've had some terrible luck with my 1984 T3, 1.9l watercooled camper, and would appreciate your help and advice.

Having had my van for a year and had no trouble with it in that time, in which I clocked up 10,000 miles lugging a heavy soundsystem and towing a shed on wheels (long story!!) to various festivals and events, I thought I'd treat my beloved van to a service last week. I live in North London, and was delighted to see a garage, advertising his services as a VW camper specialist, and despite the back alley nature of the place, thought I'd give him a whirl.

The thermostat had packed in not long after I got the van, but as it never seemed to overheat I'd put off fixing it. Also, the leisure battery never seemed to charge. But recently the battery light had started to flicker as I was driving, which I put down to a dodgy belt, so when I got it serviced, I asked yer man to have a look at why the light was coming on, the leisure battery, and to fix the thermostat.

I picked up the van, and was pleased to be told the van was good and not to be charged the earth for the service. He put the battery light, and lack of power to the leisure battery down to a weak alternator, which he did a small bit of work on to make it give off more charge, and he changed the belt for me anyway as part of the service which should help fix the problems. But he said it wasn't worth changing the thermostat as it was more hassle than it was worth and it definitely wouldn't overheat anyway. He also said the warning light might still come on due to the weak alternator.

So off I go, pleased as punch, thinking he seemed decent and honest, and the van got me to Northumberland ok at the weekend. I put a bit of oil in for the journey home, and all was fine though the van started losing power occasionally and I feared I'd put too much oil in it. Then the warning light came on, but I thought nothing of it as he'd suggested this might happen and the van seemed to be going ok. So, when it started losing power completely, I was most surprised! I pulled on to the hard shoulder of the A1, and sure enough it had bloody well overheated, and after getting the engine cover off we saw we'd blown the rubber seals on the gasket which was leaking fluid everywhere. Most upsettingly of all, this was all because the new belt had perished and completely come off!

Luckily I'm in the RAC, and got rescued to my girlfriend's parents house, eventually, where the van now is. She starts, but obviously won't go anywhere. I've asked lots of people though and been told I basically need a whole new engine though, unbelieveable! Is this definitely so? I can't really afford the £1600 or whatever for a re-con, but even if I get lucky and it's fixable, it'll be £500 apparently!

I took the perished belt to the mechanic, who was amazed, and said if I got hold of an engine then he would install it for free. Obviously I'm wary that if he couldn't fit a belt properly then an engine seems a big ask, but at the same time, if I can get a decent engine, then perhaps this is my best option (followed by a proper service by a reputable garage).

I'm completely puzzled what to do basically - not to mention heartbroken at the moment! Anyway, if any of you have any suggestions as to what I should do, then please let me know.

Thanks, and sorry this is such an essay,

Paddy

[VWCamperfan]

Evening! Oh and welcome to the club!
I'm more of an Aircooled guy myself but I have noticed a few people on here are saying the thermostat is an important part of the system as is regulates water to other parts of the engine. Just whats been mentioned though!
I take it the belt breaking has caused the alternator to stop charging (hence charging light) and stopped water pump from operating also.
When you mention water leaking from the rubber seals on the gasket, where is this exactly... On the head or thermostat housing etc.
Most likely if it starts (which you have said it does) and seems to run without any problems (with coolant in system and belt back on) then I would assume everything is ok but I would keep an eye on the temperature guage, oil and water levels and condition of the oil and water ie. no oil in the water and no water in the oil (makes oil turn yellowish due to emulsifying oil and water).
Stick a new belt on, top up and bleed cooling system and see what happens.
The alternator charging we'll sort out when the engines up and running again as that could be a number of things!

Hope this helps.

[Red Westie]

I'd appreciate a clearer explaination about the perrished belt....perrishing is something that happens to rubber/neoprene after years of use (goes hard and surface cracks, obviously this brand new belt wasn't perrished in the true sense of the word.
So whatever happened to the belt, was it left loose? or oversized perhaps as in too big? did it look new? I mean it is possible that the water pump or alternator seized up causing the belt to ride ove a static pulley.
Martin

[Peepshow Paddy]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

>>I take it the belt breaking has caused the alternator to stop charging (hence charging light) and stopped water pump from operating also.
Yep, that's right, and the old one was loose so doing neither task particularly well.

>>When you mention water leaking from the rubber seals on the gasket, where is this exactly... On the head or thermostat housing etc.
On the head, it pours out basically. 8-(

>>Stick a new belt on, top up and bleed cooling system and see what happens.
I've tried a new belt, and top up, and it's too late unfortunately, the head's gone.

>>I'd appreciate a clearer explaination about the perrished belt....perrishing is something that happens to rubber/neoprene after years of use (goes hard and surface cracks, obviously this brand new belt wasn't perrished in the true sense of the word.
So whatever happened to the belt, was it left loose? or oversized perhaps as in too big? did it look new?

It was a new belt, I'm not sure how it perished, but it had come off. It was the right size, but I don't think it can have fitted properly. It has lost it's teeth in about a foot long section and was completely off.

>>I mean it is possible that the water pump or alternator seized up causing the belt to ride ove a static pulley.
Right, thanks - I don't think this happened, but I guess it's possible...

Thanks again,

Paddy

[VWCamperfan]

Hmmm.... You could go along the new engine route or repair the one you currently have. Both viable options but I would take advice from some of the watercooled bods on here first to help you decide.
To be honest, by the sound of things I don't think the new belt was fitted properly (if you can do such a thing??!!!). If you had no problems with the old one other than it being loose, then I can only assume something wasn't done correctly when the new one was fitted to make it do that.
As Red Westie said, it could be a seized pump or alternator. Try turning by hand and see if there is any tightness, although this may only show up when warm.

[Peepshow Paddy]

Thanks Mark, I'll try that when I'm back with the van. Yeah, almost certain the new belt wasn't fitted properly. Bummer...