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Subject:Re: Is it normal to loose coolant when...
From:John Goubeaux
Date:Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:01:49 -0700

David,

I had just replaced my AC compressor and had pulled the PS belt to get
the AC belt on, I noticed that the alternator belt was bad ( or slightly
cracked) and thought " i should replace it" lazily i did not.  I went
for a test drive and with the AC running made a tight turn and heard a
belt screech. After the alternator belt broke and upon inspection I saw
that the PS belt was knocked off. Either the PS belt came free and took
the alternator belt or the other way around.

To answer your question:  No apparent water pump damage, and after
replacing the belt everything  seems fine..  eg no water pump noise and
car runs at normal temp  and no apparent coolant leak anywhere.

I am going to replace the PS belt as well now...  and be glad that they
are all new and that the critical one broke  now and not while on the
trip I am taking tomorrow.  !

-john

Dvdclarksn@aol.com wrote:
> Could there be a slightly different scenario, such as the water pump
> locking up causing the belt to break and the coolant loss being a
> symptom of a failed water pump? Was the pump making any appreciable
> noise prior to the belt breaking/coolant loss? How was the engine
> temperature? Any higher than normal? After the incident did the pump
> spin freely without any unusual noises or resistance? I'm just
> thinking along the lines of the typical water pump short life span in
> our vehicles and how the symptoms that you describe could possibly
> follow a water pump failure.
>
> David Clarkson
> 90 Westy (253k and on the 5th water pump)
>
>
>
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