While we are talking about being in the middle of the desert and having a hole in a coolant hose...

Remember that all deserts are not filled with sand.  As we have seen from our recent post concerning a burning vehicle, you might as well be in a desert just about anywhere.  I once was faced with a similar situation where I was 50 miles from home and while stuck in traffic, started noticing a white cloud in my mirror. I got it to a side road before it overheated and had to contemplate my options.  I could just call the tow company and give them $50 - $75, or I could try and limp it home.  Since I was near enough to a auto parts store, and figured that I would rather have my money for other things, I improvised.  The hose that sprung a leak was buried behind the pulley and dipstick.  Not an easy change on the side of the road even if I could find one.  I purchased: 1) a tire patch kit,  2) some spray cleaner (carb or brake), and a number of small hose clamps.  Cleaned the area of the leak with the cleaner,  applied the patch per instructions, and banded the whole area edge to edge with the hose clamps.  Now I won't admit to how long that band-aid stayed on Smokey the Turtle, but suffice to say it was definately long enough to get home. I now carry that combination in the spare parts kit always.  BTW... Smokey (color) is a Syncro Westy (turtle) so I had all the water that I needed to replace the vital fluid.  

Mark Rokus
'87 GL Syncro Westy (Smokey)    
'87 GL Syncro (KiSseR)
'86 Syncro (the hanger Queen)
'81 Westy Aircooled
'82 Rabbit Diesel
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Don Oldenburg 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2001 5:42 AM
  Subject: Re: '90 vanagon--hose leaking antifreeze
  Because of Memorial Day weekend, it wasn't coming overnight--so I started 
  fiddling with the hose to see if I could somehow easily rig a fix until I got 
  the right part. 
     After two hours of playing with the thing, and realizing any fix I 
  contemplated (including gluing it, strapping the break with a rubber seal and 
  screw clamps, etc.) had to overcome the problem of the antifreeze soaked bust 
  in the hose top (right near its connection to the top of the left cylinder), 
  I finally decided I'd wait and stop wasting my time. Not like I was in the 
  middle of the dessert and had to move on! 

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