Re: [DML] My fan made it all the way Through the day, but my fan belt didn't

[Marc Levy <malevy_nj@xxxxxxxxx>]

Does not sound too bad, but the only way to know for sure is to replace the belt and fill it up.  Keep an eye on cross contamination of fluids, as well as excessive pressure in the coolant system when the engine is running.

The concern I have with your story is "30 year old belts".  If the belts are original, then the radiator probably is too.  Be careful with the hoses on the plastic radiator tank (the small hose at the top on the passenger side is where you bleed the radiator).  Other than that, best thing to do is put some pressure in the system (with a coolant tester) and bleed from the top of the water pump.

If you plan on driving this car, and still have all original parts, this may be a good time to do a full cooling system/water pump/valley of death service on the car..  Assuming it also has not been done, 30 yr old water pump seals and hoses will get you stuck again.


--- On Thu, 7/5/12, Doug Menkhaus <dmenkhaus@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: Doug Menkhaus <dmenkhaus@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: [DML] My fan made it all the way Through the day, but my fan belt didn't
To: "dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thursday, July 5, 2012, 7:49 PM

Thank Steve for the help with diagnosing my blower motor cutout issue, the replacement Circuit Breaker I got from DMCMW earlier as part of there "Relay upgrade kit" was really beneficial and I was so glad it included the Circuit Breaker.

During the parade, my car ran great, even in the 100 degree temps!  I wasn't running the A/C since we had the doors open, and the temp of the car stayed at the first line the whole time.  I was a little nervous about the radiator fans running so much, as when I was checking the blower motor circuit breaker for proper operation, I noticed the wires for the radiator fans circuit breaker were "warm".  I have the original fans, so, I definitely need the low-draw fan upgrade.

As a side benefit, my fuel gauge seems to be working a little bit better.  It never read above 1/4 of a tank, so I never knew how much gas I had (almost ran out the morning of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway event). Well, I filled it up, and I think the sloshing around during the drive to the parade loosened it up.  It now reads 1/2 :-). Yeah!!

So after the parade, we went to Cliffs, and had a great time.

During the 45 minute drive home, the car ran good, and the air cooled the car adequately in the 100 degree temps.  I ran the fan on speed 3' as I knew with the air on and the fans running I was taxing the original electrical system, so I didn't push it all the way. The car ran just below the 220 mark.

2 miles from my house, the battery light came on, and the voltage was down somewhere around the 8 volt mark.  I turned off the blower motor and the A/C, thinking I probably threw a belt.  I though surely I can make it on the battery the 2 miles home.  Then I looked at the temp gauge, oh yeah, same fan belt for the water pump.  The gauge quickly hit the top mark.  I think I drove a total of 500 feet from when I saw the battery light and when I stopped the engine.

As soon as I did, the radiator cap started spewing out with good force.  I left a trail from the overflow hose about 100 foot long.  The 30 year old belt was shredded.

AAA towed me home, and I got replacement belts today at NAPA (had them in stock!) and will put them on this weekend.

So, reading above, did I do any damage to the engine?  It ran up to full on the gauge, but the entire thing was 500 feet long at 35 mph.  It barfed out probably a gallon, and was definitely hot, but it was all very short.  So, a short overheat.

I think there is a nice write up somewhere ( maybe on Hervey's site or somewhere on DMCTALK?) that details how to reload and purge the radiator.  I should get the auto leader too.

Hoping all is well, thanks for you help,

Doogie



> 


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