In August I'll be heading out on a 1,600 km round trip trip to the West
Kootenays with my wife and young child who will be 11 months old.  More than
once I have had the pleasurable adventure of spending idle time on the side
of a highway and earning my air cooled points - let's see, bent valve and
valve guide, mangled camshaft, blown front bearings and failed coil (it was
new at the time). So, with this vacation in mind I'd like to minimize any
chance of a possible divorce or selling my van to the organic mechanic -
well below market value.

Being from the air cooled family, a water pump and its behaviour is foreign
to me.  Is there a way I can predict a possible failure?  Presently,
everything is eerily working very well.  There are no coolant leaks to
report, the temp guage is working well - indicating everything is normal, no
moisture showing up on the oil dipstick, and I had the coolant replaced
several months ago.

Any words from the experienced and the wise?  I've had my vanagon for a
little over a year and I am still getting acquainted with her.

Thanks for the input.

Bruce Todd
86 Westfalia Syncro