Volks,  Please forgive me if this was sent previously...

I replace the alternator and belt on ole Phred last night.  Ran an errand
later in the evening, and the alternator belt broke.  As this belt drives
the water pump too, the engine overheated in a matter of seconds.  Got Phred
towed home this AM.  Surveyed the damage, and found that when the alternator
belt broke, it took out - literally!! - the oil dip stick tube and mangled
it around the crank pulley.  Too, the distribution manifold for the cooling
system - located near the starter under the passenger side rear of the bus -
blew out a plug of some kind, the result of the over heating.

Now replacing the belts I'm not too concerned with.  But where oh where can
I get a dipstick tube?  Dealer only?  And the plug on the side of the
coolant distribution manifold - can just the plug be replaced?  Or do I need
a whole distribution unit.  And where can that be had?

Thanks for the help.  Remember, you can tighten the belts too much.

Alan Bosch
& Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
Rochester, NY

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