To get the van home, he only need the alternator belt.  13mm wrench.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: Need help with belts

> Never ever operate the engine without the water pump. Even from a cold
> start. The heads and cylinder tops will heat up fast and without the water
> flowing, will destroy the seals in those areas. The temp gauge is useless
> with out the pump as the sender is not in direct contact with the engine.
> You will have steam and excess pressure by the time the gauge indicates
> anything. As the belts were changed 7 months ago, when was the last time
> they were checked and what quality belts were used? Loose/broken brackets
> and bad bearings are usual causes for belts to come off and fail.
Replacing
> the belts is fairly easy. You will have to remove one end of a small
coolant
> hose for the Power Steering belt. The A/C Compressor has a jacking screw
to
> help tension it. you will need 13 mm wrenches for the Alternator. A 22mm
if
> you have the toothed top bolt for holding tension. The Power steering pump
> may need to have the bottom bolt loosened so it can pivot, (17mm wrench).
> And you may need a 10mm Allen wrench for the AC pivots.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of S Sittservl
> Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 5:25 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Need help with belts
>
>
> My '88 Westfalia is stranded once again.
>
> While I was driving last night, apparently two belts broke
> simultaneously while I was on my way to McDonalds. The "battery"
> light came on, and, after I was in the drive-through lane, the
> engine began to overheat, and I noticed my steering was no longer
> "powered".  I pulled into a parking spot (after paying for, but
> not receiving, my McChicken and fries; they got the order wrong
> anyway) and discovered:
>
>     (1) A little coolant on the ground
>     (2) Two broken belts
>     (3) On shattered plastic shield that I think used to fit
>         over one of the pulleys, and
>     (4) A third belt, turned inside-out and riding on the rims of
>         two pulleys - the one on the engine, and the air conditioner.
>         (I'm so glad that's the belt that survived - I'd hate to
>         be without air conditioning in February.)
>
> These were new belts, by the way - just put in by a local shop
> 7 months ago.
>
> I'm hoping to avoid towing the thing.  I'm getting tired of towing it.
> So, can anyone tell me how to replace the belts myself?
>
> Neither the owner's manual nor the Bently manual tells how to do
> this - at least not that I've found.  I suppose the owner's manual
> assumes I'm so inept I wouldn't understand, whereas the Bently
> assumes I'm so talented I don't need to be told.  I am, as it
> happens, somewhere in between.  (I think.)
>
> Two more questions in case, after hearing the instructions, I decide
> I agree with the owner's manual's evaluation of my aptitude:
>
> (1) Can I drive 5 miles to a shop beltless?  Certainly I can do without
>     power steering or A/C, and I ought to be OK without the alternator
>     for a while.  So, I suppose the only worry is the water pump?
>     Can I run for 5 miles un-cooled on a cold day, if I watch my
>     temperature gauge?  (Note: when my belts broke 7 months ago, I
>     didn't realize it at first, and kept driving.  Within 5 minutes,
>     the coolant distributer box had burst, necessitating a tow and yet
>     another round of expensive repairs.  Obviously I don't want to
>     repeat that, but it was in the middle of summer, and I wondered
>     if that might make a difference).
>
> (2) I think Wal-Mart carries temporary-use "emergency belts" that strap
>     on easily.  Any thoughts about using one of those to get the van to
>     a shop?
>
> Also, is there a manual available that would tell me about things
> like belt replacement?  Perhaps the Haynes, or Bus Depot's
> pocket manual?
>
> Any ideas what would cause new belts to spontaneously break?
>
> Thank you.
>
>                            -Steven Sittser
>