Chris:  I replaced that water distributor about a year ago and it was only
$30 from the dealer (shocked at the cheapness of such an elaborate piece of
plastic)  $190 labor to r&r it sounds very high to me unless the mechanic
charges $150 for a flush and fill of the cooling system.

DM&FS
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris C Snyder <trollboy_1@LYCOS.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, October 07, 2000 11:33 AM
Subject: Water, water

> I am hoping that some one can help me sort this problem out.
>
>Last Wednesday evening, on the way back from the crousing The Coast parade
I was driving along at about 10mph in the line of others when all of a
sudden, I hear the "big pop" and in looking in my review mirror I could see
all of my coolant plastering the car (convertible at that) behind me.
>
>I had it pulled in to a shop the next day as I could not find any hose bad
and they found that the hose manifold ( the thing where a lot of the hoses
connect) blew up. The mechanic that did the checking of the problem said
that their is a plug thats put in the part at the factory and glued in and
while he has never seen it happen that is what the problem is. It's costing
me $52.00 for the part and yes the labor is high 190.00 making the repair
almost $300.00
>
>My thinking is that for some reason the system built up to much pressure
for some reason and blew the weakest part. I have had no problems with the
cooling system what so ever. I did change the pressure relief thing on the
expansion tank last spring and thats all.
>
>Has any one had or heard of this happening? I don't want to have to replace
this again if something else is causing high pressure.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Chris
>
>
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