did the van come with the owner's manual ?  There are probably basics like
where to put the coolant in there.
Also..........get a Bentley Manual ......if you are planning on doing any
work on it yourself.........you'll need that book.
it's not reallly a 'how to' quite ..........well it is somewhat
..........but they expect you to know basics of how to work on cars
...............and they have good electrical tests in it.

it could be a hose.
the normal way to find that is fill it with coolant, or even water
temporarily...........run it, and see where it comes out.
that's assuming you don't have a pressure tester ........which is the more
'real' way to find a coolant leak.

you'll need a belt on the water pump and alternator of course, to run it.
at least you got home !

----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas Kortus" <tkortus@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 4:27 AM
Subject: a newbie with some problems: hissing 2.1 L WBX and thrown belt

Help!

I just bought a 89 vanagon and i had just turned ont on my street after a 5
hour drive only to hear a very loud hissing sound from the engine. I pulled
over immediately and the hissing continued and eventually died out. There is
coolant on the engine and a belt was off. the belt goes around the pulley to
the far right of the engine. the coolant tank is bone dry.

I am completely new to vanagons and to this engine (2.1. L wbx) i had a '67
split window for about 7 years.

i am thinking and hoping that this is just a hose, but i don;t even know
what to put in this engine for coolant. or where to put it.

any help would be very appreciated.

also as i was coming home the fan up front was working overtime at points in
the trip. i am assmuning that this fan is designed to help the cooling
process is that right?

thank you- i am looking forward to learning more about this van nd these
engines- i guess owning one is the best way to do this- my lessons just
started sonner that i thought they would.

thanks-

thomas

durham ,NC
'89 vANAGON gl Wolfsburg

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