[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Author Index][Thread Index] Thar she blows!
After a spirited run last Friday afternoon I had the hood up in the driveway just looking over things and trying to track down a persistent small coolant leak, when I reached in and tapped the input line to the after-run turbo cooling pump. The fitting broke off right at the pump housing and sprayed a fan-shaped pattern of quite hot and stickey coolant over me and the engine. The neighbors must have paused for reflection. "Hey, Heather, neighbor-dude is doing a whirling and spitting dance in his driveway. Go get your tambourine!" (This is California after all.) Luckily I was using the polygylcol coolant which is not poisonous and only had minor burns on the arms. After everything stopped gurgling, me and the car, inspection revealed the inch long inlet fitting had broke off cleanly at the impeller housing. Good news is that I probably have found my leak... bad news... what do I do now? Seems like a few weeks ago someone was asking if pieces of this pump could be purchased, but I don't recall the answer. Anyone know? Is this pump really necessary? Anyone want to admit having ditched this thing? I ran a boost-enhanced Saab Turbo for 96kmi without after-cooling with _no_ coking in the turbo. Seems like it may be a case of suspenders and a belt for the non-cognoscente owner. I attached the two loose hoses together with a deep 5/8" socket and we are mobile again. Please learn from my occurance and use caution when wiggling this hose. Yet another example of Audi vision and cost cutting, "...let's make it from plastic!" taking different roads. Regards, Gross Scruggs
|
