Community Forums

PanJH · 12-04-2021, 05:10 AM

Yesterday afternoon our waterpump decided to puke out our coolant on US1 south of Homestead,FL. Coachmet sent a wrecker,took 6 hours to get here and he said he couldn't tow us due to the way the genset was and the low front end. 7 hours lateranother truck arrives and said same thing. Come on,certainly 2013 vintage dutch stars have been towed..so 15 hours later,wer are Stull onthe side of A very busy road...any advice would be appreciated

Winger2 · 12-04-2021, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanJH

Yesterday afternoon our waterpump decided to puke out our coolant on US1 south of Homestead,FL. Coachmet sent a wrecker,took 6 hours to get here and he said he couldn't tow us due to the way the genset was and the low front end. 7 hours lateranother truck arrives and said same thing. Come on,certainly 2013 vintage dutch stars have been towed..so 15 hours later,wer are Stull onthe side of A very busy road...any advice would be appreciated

Could you get a mobile mechanic? Sorry for your headache

PanJH · 12-04-2021, 06:07 AM

Going to check on that too

96kpmjmm · 12-04-2021, 06:14 AM

Sorry to hear that you are stuck on a side of a busy road. My 2016 Dutch Star had to be towed. I remember the guy saying it was a plan in the a$$, but he got it done. Good luck and stay safe

https://www.irv2.com/forums/attachme...1&d=1638623465

R.Wold · 12-04-2021, 06:22 AM

A water pump should be a very easy and quick job on a Cummins with a side radiator. I vote for a mobile mechanic as well. Less chance of damaging your rig, no waiting for a shop to get around to it. And it should be a lot cheaper. Its not a complicated or time consuming job.

I replaced one on an ISB in a Doge truck for a camper stuck in a Wyoming CG. Took about an hour including chasing down a pump on a Sunday afternoon. The only difficult part was threading the belt back on. But your engine has better access and fewer accessories. It only cost the owner around $120 including a couple gallons of coolant. Add a couple hours for a mobile mechanic and your should still be under $500.

So unless Im missing something, its really a simple job. The first thing to do is get it into a parking lot somewhere close that is safe from traffic, and confirm that the leak is coming from the pump - the weep hole, seal, or O-ring, or somewhere else.

If it is the pump, call around to the local parts shops and locate one. I think we found one at an Autozone, but thats a big town- you’ll find one. It will speed up the process and keep you from being over charged for parts. If you can change the belt and are at all handy with a wrench, you could easily do this yourself.

outlawten5 · 12-04-2021, 06:35 AM

Definitely call a mobile mechanic. I wouldn't tow unless absolutely necessary.

R.Wold · 12-04-2021, 06:49 AM

If you are stuck there waiting anyway, post a couple pics of it. Also PM with my phone number sent.

PanJH · 12-04-2021, 07:08 AM

Coolant was pretty much pouring out the waterpump pully shaft. Waiting on. Oa hmet to see if they. An find a mobile tec.... have a call into local freightlin

tmandoug1 · 12-04-2021, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanJH

Coolant was pretty much pouring out the waterpump pully shaft. Waiting on. Oa hmet to see if they. An find a mobile tec.... have a call into local freightlin

Let us know how Coachnet responds.....I am currently looking at them for RA.

RVRon · 12-04-2021, 07:26 AM

Following….

JNSNWT · 12-04-2021, 07:41 AM

I have State Farm insurance on my DSDP and when I needed a tow I was told to use any company I wanted then turn in a receipt for reimbursement.

I was on the side of the road less than an hour before the Calvary arrived.

When I turned in the bill to my local office they wrote me a check for the full amount.

USMCRET · 12-04-2021, 07:52 AM

PanJH, try calling towing companies for a mobile mech. Towing companies are sometimes a part of a garage. That’s how I got repaired last year when my roadside service company punted it into the stands.

YC1 · 12-04-2021, 07:58 AM

Sorry for your misery. I feel your pain..

Did the coolant come out gushing or is it just a pin hole type of issue?

If it is a smaller leak and does not spray over things like the alternator you might be able to add water and remove the radiator cap so pressure does not build in the system and then limp off the dangerous highway.

I'm not a diesel mechanic but have limped around with the radiator cap off vehicles before.

GypsyR · 12-04-2021, 11:17 AM

If it were me I would have long been off the road. With a coolant leak you can stop, let the engine cool off, add plain water, and continue until it starts getting too hot. You can actually travel quite a ways like that. I did it to not long ago in a different vehicle that I was too hard headed to have towed. I ended up buying a bunch of gallon bottles of drinking water from Wal Mart (wife's idea) and we brought it all the way home.

With our coach is would be even simpler because I always carry water in the fresh tank. Plain water is a fine coolant for short term use. For example, many race cars use plain water as antifreeze/coolant mixtures are not allowed on many racetracks.