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Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Yahoo Message Number: 106683
We have a severe coolant leak with our school bus water pump. Does anyone have any recommendations for a repair service in the Yreka area? I may be able to drive to Medford Oregon with a few water stops along the way. Our intention is to have the pump bypassed since it is really not needed.
I am hoping some really thin service tech can get to the pump without removing the back bedroom floor. On the other hand I am pretty handy and we are safely parked at the Yreka Ca. Wal Mart. I could remove the floor in the bedroom and remove the pump hoses but parts might be an issue.

Norm

04 Intrigue #11773 with ISL 400 engine.

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106684
You can get the bypass parts (hoses, clamps, couplings) at any auto parts store, and maybe even walmart? Just need to know the size hose (diameter/length) and coupling. I changed that pump on my 36 foot Allure and access wasn't that bad from underneath the coach near the radiator. I think (??) that pump gives you house heat and hot hot water while going down the road? Larry, 03 Allure 30856

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106685
Norm:

My suggestion would be to call CAT in Medford, OR and ask the Shop Foreman, great guy, if Woody still works there, if so, he's your guy. I had an O-ring go bad on a plug in the head, firewall side, and Woody got in there, removed the plug replaced the O-ring reinstalled and never saw what he was doing - $200, 2 hours; 3 years have passed an it's still good. Beats going thru the bedroom.

John Beach

06 Allure 31309

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106688
Thanks for the information John. I will give them a call on Monday. We are not in an emergency situation at the moment. I may just tackle the job myself since I am in no hurry. Just as long as Wal Mart doesn't mind we stay a few days.

Norm

04 Intrigue #11773

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106689
Norm,

Going the wrong way, however, I used Twin Oaks Repair in Penngrove, CA. just south of Santa Rosa, I have added the name, address and phone number for the shop. If nothing else maybe call them and see if they can recommend someone in the area. They bailed my behind out of a very crazy deal. These guys were nothing short of great.

Jeff-Owner

James Offenbach-Lead Mechanic
5745 Old Redwood Hwy
Penngrove, CA 94951
707-975-4803

Jock Vargo

EX 2005 Inspire.

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106690
Norm:

Your welcome. I am stuck here in Eugene @ Peterson CAT, I had a diesel leak @ the return in the head and having solved that, we decided to solve the valve cover leaks. Turns out the valve cover has a few cracks and needs to be replaced with an updated version. Yes, they went thru the bedroom, where's Woody when you need him. Out of here Monday. Peterson CAT, Medford, will do a good job.

Good luck.

John Beach

06 Allure 31309

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106692
Norm, this same thing just happened to me. It is easy to remove closet doors, sliding rack on floor and then cover. It is all easy access then. I bought an 8" long piece of 3/4" heater hose and bypassed the pump. Also pull the pump fuse in ignition fuse box up front. You don't need the pump. It just provides hot water to the dash heater more quickly. Dash heat will still work, just more slowly. It is a bad design. The pump runs all the time ignition is on and is located next to turbo. It is a very weak link in the cooling system. I am leaving mine bypassed. Bottom line, you can fix it yourself there in Walmart.

Greg

06 Magna 6642
2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106697
Can any of you with this pump provide a pic of the gizmo? I am not sure I have one on my Allure but, if so, I'd rather bypass it now than have a problem with it on a trip.

Gary

07 Allure 470 Siskiyou Summit

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106698
image1.JPG

Here is my pump bypassed. The heat shield near turbo, was added by a truck center to attempt to save the pump seals, but I don't want the pump in my engine coolant system. It will fail sooner or later, loose all your coolant, engine shuts down, broken down on side of road. Been there, done that, twice. Never again!

Greg

06 Magna 6642
2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106699
Thanks for the encouragement Greg. I am going to start on it today. My only issue is what to do with the coolant. I don,t think Wal Mart will appreciate me draining it in their parking lot. I guess I will buy a couple of 5 gallon cans to store it in and then pour it back in when done. I will deal with proper antifreeze concentrations and other coolant treatment issues when I get to my destination in Oregon in a few days.
Again thank you all for your input.

Norm

04 Intrigue #11773

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106700
Norm, Greg is correct that you need 3/4 in. heater hose to do the bypass. In my case the length was 12 in. but I have the 04 33 ft. Seaside coach with a 400 Cummins. It is also true that the OTR heater will work fine w/o the pump. In my case you can see the pump is just behind the rear axle on the driver's side. Expect to drop a good bit of coolant. I was able to do mine from below, but I would not call it an easy job. I would advise letting a shop do it unless you have suitable jack stands available to guard against the coach falling on you.

George Harper
04 Allure 31093

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106701
Norm; make sure any hose you purchase is certified antifreeze hose not fuel line hose. Most of the hose used by the Country Coach Factory were not certified for antifreeze in the cooling lines and they melt overtime. I would recommend gates hose

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106702
Norm, I lost about seven gallons of coolant when I replaced my pump. I tried clamping the hoses, but that didn't work. My coolant is propylene glycol (enviromentally friendly) vs ethylene glycol.

Larry, 03 Allure 30856

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106705
Boy, that's right. We just had a club member stranded on the side of the road on the way to a rally. Lost all coolant. Upon inspection CC had used a charge air hose in place of a main coolant hose. Earlier he had another failure of a hydraulic hose where an air hose had been substituted. He has a 2007 Inspire.

George Harper
04 Allure 31093

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106707
You won't lose any more doing the bypass. After I finished it, I had to add 8 gallons of new coolant. I bought some Cat ELC premix at a nearby truck center.
Greg
2006 Magna Rembrandt C13
2016 Jeep GC toad

Re: Stuck in Yreka Ca.

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 106715
Just finished doing the repair myself. With all of the advise I received on this forum and also a helpfull conversation with Kevin Waite I decided to tackle the job myself.
I removed my closet doors and track along with the access panel. After I got all the bolts out I found out I only had to remove the floor panel. I did not have to remove the closet doors or the bolts to the step up at the closet.
I just bypassed the pump with a 12 in x3/4 inch coolant hose and cut the wires and removed the fuse to the pump. I left the pump in place. I got tired of standing on my head.
I would recommend anyone with this pump still in the loop to bypass it before it fails. You will save yourself lots of coolant expense.
Thanks again to all who gave me advise and encouragement. I saved a bunch of money and got another free night at Wal Mart. And the weather is perfect.

Norm 04 Intrigue #11773