Had to happen I suppose.

Came across the shopping centre car park to put the groceries in my t3 & there's a pool of coolant under it.

Won't touch it here, just make sure there's plenty in it to get home. As it stands, a very wise move.

Got home, got it unloaded & up on the jack.
Here's this thing that is obviously some sort of junction for the cooling with coolant dripping from two hoses, or so I thought.
Checked the larger one, no problem. As soon as I touched the smaller one, the pipe fell off, not the hose.

Coolant everywhere & a dead duck truck. (For those who don't know, coolant tastes like shit & is a lousy eyewash.)

I must say, after 17 years of playing with kombis, this was the most difficult bloody thing I have tried to get out, & I am disgusted that a major part of any one of my trucks is plastic.

Got the part yesterday (kept the old one, a mate of mine is going to make one out of brass). Took a lot less time to put it back together & I'm back in business.

If there's an upside, it's that I've learned a little more about my t3.
Also the absolute pleasure of dealing with Ben Durie.

Nice one mate. I guess it has to happen sooner or later.

never gonna be that way......... again - cruel sea

[ Edited on 18-6-2006 by bus914 ]

I'm still impressed with the big bastard.

Aside from the throttle cable snapping, which is just one of those things, this is the first major drama I've had in 15,000 km on a 15 year old bus. I can live with that. The fact it got to the driveway before anything gave is definitely a bonus.

Just got back from a run to Sydney & back, never missed a beat, so I got it right anyway.

Took my bay for a run the other day. I couldn't believe how clumsy & uncomfortable the old girl felt compared to the big one.

welcome to the fold t3's rule love the cushy ride and handling

[ Edited on 23-6-2006 by greedy51 ]

You cant beat aircooled!

I dunno.
Last time my bay popped it's cork I sat on the side of the road for 3 1/2 hours & it had to be towed home.

I had no trouble.

Ben Durie told me what to tweak & where it was. I followed the directions to the letter.

Filled the T3 to the brim with petrol on the weekend (a wad of cash later), well seems as though i over filled it because fuel started leaking from under the car/fuel tank, though this stopped shortly after.

Well i'm no mechanic but this doesn't appear to be good, let alone safe??? Either way i'll be taking it to the mechanic.

Is this common with the T3's or just something that can happen to a 16 y.o car?

It is on them

In either front wheel arch is a breather box. (dont ask - i have NO idea why they need 2 of them)

Anyway - there is a hose system that goes off to them. Your problem will be
1) the rubber grommet that hold the T piece is split perrished broken

2) the T piece is broken.


Their is a T piece on either side of the tank and a joiner between them. The other side goes up to the breather box things.

They are hard to find the T pieces.

Appreciate the help