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depps74 Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2020 Posts: 157
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:27 pm Post subject: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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EDIT: 1990 2.1 Automatic Multivan (Weekender)
Tonight I came home from a job, (I live in my van in Nyc when working and commute back when job is done). I was about 3 miles from my home when the battery light came on, then the engine temp starting blinking, and then the oil alarm went off. I pulled over as soon as I could about .5 miles. Steam was billowing out the left vent and license plate. Very nerve racked I let the engine cool down for about 5 min. Then started back up and drove another mile, did not take long for alarm to go off. I stopped again and let it cool down and opened the engine. There was massive steam coming off the reserve tank ( I think that's what its called) as well as a hissing. It was also bubbling like it was boiling. There was also a few belts that came off the AC compressor. IT smelled like burning rubber and steam. I drove home with the alarm going for about another 3-4 minutes, frantic and terrified I may be ruining something in the engine.
I will take to mechanic tomorrow, but wondering what the hell happened. ITs been running great for weeks now.
ugh..... what's that bumpersticker, unless your willing to burn money dont get a VW? |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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more like
if you are willing to ignore the engine (idiot) lights
don't buy a volkswagen.
the battery light is connected to your Alternator which shares it's drive belt with the waterpump (by design)
when that light came on you were no longer circulating coolant..
if you don't circulate coolant, it WILL overheat in very short order.
your mechanic will tell you the rest of the very expensive story for not reading the owners manual. read #4 the last half states (or while driving...)
here's a copy of an 1985 one. this page is the same for all WBX
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/1985vanagon.php
depps74 wrote: |
Tonight I came home from a job, (I live in my van in Nyc when working and commute back when job is done). I was about 3 miles from my home when the battery light came on, then the engine temp starting blinking, and then the oil alarm went off. I pulled over as soon as I could about .5 miles. Steam was billowing out the left vent and license plate. Very nerve racked I let the engine cool down for about 5 min. Then started back up and drove another mile, did not take long for alarm to go off. I stopped again and let it cool down and opened the engine. There was massive steam coming off the reserve tank ( I think that's what its called) as well as a hissing. It was also bubbling like it was boiling. There was also a few belts that came off the AC compressor. IT smelled like burning rubber and steam. I drove home with the alarm going for about another 3-4 minutes, frantic and terrified I may be ruining something in the engine.
I will take to mechanic tomorrow, but wondering what the hell happened. ITs been running great for weeks now.
ugh..... what's that bumpersticker, unless your willing to burn money dont get a VW? |
Last edited by danfromsyr on Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:08 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Yellow Rabbit Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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^this
Hopefully it’s good news. Best case it sounds like you need a water pump. Worst case....let’s not go there yet. |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7757 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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x2...
Water pump/alternator belt broke, overheated, much concern.
Sorry to say, you missed a great chance to replace a broken
belt and minimize catastrophic failure...
Good luck, bud... <shrug>
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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depps74 Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2020 Posts: 157
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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shit so I am screwed? Whats the bad news the engine is totaled? |
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SCM Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3118 Location: Bozeman MT
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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depps74 wrote: |
I drove home with the alarm going for about another 3-4 minutes, frantic and terrified I may be ruining something in the engine. |
Yeah, you might have done just that. Something happened (maybe a busted alternator belt) that caused your indicator light to say "HOLD UP something's wrong". Your engine overheated and you kept pushing it.
Hopefully you expansion tank (the one you don't see from the license plate flap. The one inside the engine bay on the left side) cracked. That's not uncommon and will cause the symptoms you noticed. It's easy to replace that tank and there's better than stock option$ for it.
But you may have fried your engine by driving it after you noticed the problem.[/b] _________________ '91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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SCM Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 3118 Location: Bozeman MT
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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depps74 wrote: |
shit so I am screwed? Whats the bad news the engine is totaled? |
Used WBX you install yourself? $2K (I'm guessing)
Having a mechanic install a rebuilt engine? Around $7k (direct experience).
Sickest of the sickest TDI? $10k plus the cost of other upgrades to deal with the heavy foot. _________________ '91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10250 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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Depps, (and anybody reading this thread),
That was an incredibly bad idea to keep starting it and driving. I have no doubt that cost you about $500 a minute to keep driving - perhaps the most expensive 6 minutes of your life.
If anyone is reading this that thinks there is any shred of logic to driving an overheated engine, know this. At any given moment, an internal combustion engine is within 3-5 minutes of destroying itself. Always. Going to your buddies house? The engine is trying to destroy itself, foiled by the cooling system the whole way there while you are rocking out to tunes and waving to the neighbors. The only thing keeping this from happening is the cooling system frantically sucking heat off the engine that's immediately replaced by the exploding fuel in a constant battle. The oil is doing the same. Stop either one of these and the engine will destroy itself in 3-5 minutes.
There is no "safe operating time" to make it to the next exit. That gas station up the street. Home. Your buddies house. Never, ever do that again and I hope I'm wrong about the check you are about to write... _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7757 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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If your mechanic is any good, he'll give you the news, straight up.
FWIW: Be ready for it...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3416 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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Quote: |
shit so I am screwed? |
not really...
clean the engine and let it dry, replace the belt, top up coolant and run it...
you will see from there... any coolant leak? look under the heads... any weird noise?
wish you luck... I'd think you will be all right... |
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Yellow Rabbit Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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If we are not clear, don’t drive to the mechanic. Get a tow. Good luck. |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7468 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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depps74 wrote: |
ITs been running great for weeks now.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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your fortune cookie for this one says
the longest lasting lessons come at great cost.
me I fear for your headgaskets.. that tiny little green O-ring that sits inside the cylinder head can't be too happy about such high dry temps.
the head to block rubber gasket doesn't like the high pressure of a boil over event.
add water, pump system to ~10psi and see if it holds or where it leaks. this can be accomplished with a simple garden sprayer or bicycle pump. (and 0-15psi gauge)
pull spark plugs to see if coolant gets into the cylinders.
a flooded cylinder can bend a rod or crack a piston.
if it holds coolant you'll still need a compression test to see if the piston rings lost their grip on reality too.
many many things.
each and every one of them takes time and $$ for the mechanic. |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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depps74 wrote: |
ugh..... what's that bumpersticker, unless your willing to burn money dont get a VW? |
That's your takeaway? You should sell it as soon A.S.A.P.
FWIW, after the battery light came on, if you had pulled over, it would have probably been a repair costing $10 in parts and $30 in labor along with a $50 tow (unless you have AAA). That extra 5-6 miles of driving probably cost you several thousand dollars. Seriously. |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12115 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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That's clearly not a VW thing; it's a user error thing. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50348
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:59 am Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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If you were still getting boiling you may not have done much harm. My daughter tried to drive my '91 home after a hose blew and it just quit running about a mile from the house, maybe from the fuel boiling in the lines, don't know. I could feel the heat 30 feet away from the car when I approached it. The thermostat housing and lots of stuff on top of the left head were melted, and half of the synthetic oil in the crankcase had burned off. I took the attitude that the engine was a total loss but the wife insisted that I at least try to get it running. A new thermostat housing and several pieces of hose and lesser items later, it ran. The oil use was high and the power noticeably down a bit, but we ran it for a year or so until I acquired another Vanagon and took the '91 out of service to do a Subaru swap.
I don't think your engine saw anywhere near this kind of heat, as my engine had no more steam to give, just burning oil, rubber, and plastic, yet it still ran again.
When a warning light comes on, the clutch pedal needs to go to the floor and the ignition to be turn off as fast as possible. Do not remove the key though as that will LOCK the steering.
Get yourself a AAA membership, so it doesn't cost you anything directly to get a tow. If you take long trips, spring for the 200 mile towing coverage. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22668 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:10 am Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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jimf909 wrote: |
depps74 wrote: |
ITs been running great for weeks now.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. |
I was told this on my honeymoon.
If you are going to use a vehicle in your work cycle it needs the preventative maintenance approach, not the run to fail approach.
The whole cooling group gets replaced on schedule so that this failure does not occur.
I run white fleet of cars for large extended family and three of them used by remote doctors and first responders get PM
We have never been towed since 1990 _________________ .ssS! |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17153 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:46 am Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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At least you saved the money for a tow. Most owners don’t get all the warnings, your van gave you. If you are not going to tackle this yourself, as stated, tow it to a shop. It’s likely not going to be a quick repair, so you’ll need alternate transportation and a motel to sleep in when working. Ouch. _________________ ☮️ |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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AZ Landshaper Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2009 Posts: 1698 Location: The Old Pueblo
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 5:10 am Post subject: Re: My first breakdown!!! White steam coming out the left side vent. |
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Good luck fella. Been there and done that and got the t-shirt. _________________ Support Small Business.
-------------------------------------------------------
85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug. |
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