Club 80-90 Forums

Hello.
I am having a bad week with my bus.
I had a recent snapped alternator bracket - I pulled over when battery warning lights started flashing on the dash and had the van recovered to a garage.
When this happened the van did slightly overheat and a lot of water and steam appeared around the engine very briefly as I stopped.

I am still looking to replace the alternator adjustor bracket which has been welded [see my other post: https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... t#p7595867] but now have just noticed a new issue.

I have visible coolant loss when the engine is running. It is is coming out of this pipe here http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_act_shop.p ... try_GB.htm where it is attached to the engine block.
Has anyone ever experienced a leak like this before? Is this pipe and gasket simple to change?
Can this pipe and gasket be replaced with the engine in situ?

I am in desperate need of the van for a house move in 4 days!!!
My oil is not cloudy and I have had my eye fixed on the temperature gauge ever since the alternator incident and nothing strange has happened so I do not think this is anything more serious.

Any thoughts or tips on this would be thankfully received. Thanks.

Easy to change with the engine in if the studs don't break and yes this is a common part to fail.

Ian

Thanks for the fast feedback Ian - will look for all the parts and the next trick will be to find a garage close to me who can fix this at short notice.
Will post back how it goes.

Cheers.
NiK.

Heritage sell the gasket too N90128802 iirc

Amazing - http://www.vwheritage.com/ got the gasket and pipe over to me next day - a local garage - Manor Garage, Box, Wiltshire switched the gasket whilst I waited for very little money. There was no need for the pipe which I can return - I have made a test drive - all looks good and I am back up and running.

The next thing to look into is getting that alternator bracket fixed!
Thanks all.

NiK.

glasshopper wrote:The next thing to look into is getting that alternator bracket fixed!.

Surely you can source a replacement either 2nd hand or new from classic parts in germany?

I have loaded the van with stuff after the last couple of days drama - was just about to hit the road when I realised I had forgotten something.
Flicked the enigne off... walked back towards the house - glanced back at the van and noticed water again leaking from the rhs engine compartment.

Had a look with myself and a mechanic - cannot see the source of the leak exactly but there looks to be water coming from the RHS head gasket.
The van still runs fine - there is no odd smoke from the exhaust, and my oil is still clean.

Could i have split the head gasket - is this a warped head?
The vehicle had new heads around 5 years ago - which I am now thinking should have actually been a new engine considering the money I spent.

Considering my options - moving house in 2 days - the van is loaded but will never make it to its destination.
This is seriously bad news. Has anyone else experienced such a thing - a head gasket leaking only water?

Cheers for any help.
NiK.

That's not a 'head gasket' it's the waterjacket seal that's gone. The 'headgasket' is a thin annealed ring on the top of each barrel.

Ian.

Surely you can source a replacement either 2nd hand or new from classic parts in germany?

Do you have a link to this item please - or are you referring to: http://www.vw-classicparts.com/

I have been told by a German mechanic at my local garage that I can get a new VW engine for about euro 1000 from Germany.
Has anyone got any links to sites or tips about this?

Tx. NiK.

Ian - can you give me any more information about this please ... is this easy to replace?
Tx. NiK.

glasshopper wrote:

Surely you can source a replacement either 2nd hand or new from classic parts in germany?

Do you have a link to this ite please - or are you referring to:

Tx. NiK.

Did you not see this? viewtopic.php?f=37&t=68928&p=7595846#p7595867

Failing that both are available from classic parts in germany see viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54982&hilit=obtaining+obsolete+parts#p7382952

025903253 - for 45a and 65a alternators

025903251 - for 90a alternators

Hi Cruz - I saw that thanks - the bracket was sent but got lost in the post - it is really not my week with my vehicle.

I'm sure a simple wanted ad would get you another?

Hi Ian - the part that I am seeing water running from seems to be http://www.justkampers.com/shop/cylinde ... 10907.html
I can not see the source of the water coming from anywhere else.
Will go and have a look at my manual for the water jacket seal you are referring to.
Tx.
NiK.

Cruz - thanks for the feedback - I will look into the bracket - but I have much more pressing issues at the moment which relate to visible coolant loss when the engine is running.
I will get the bracket sorted if and when I have got the engine running with no coolant loss.
Thanks for the links - already located the bracket I am after - the part numbers are really really useful thanks.

All the best.