So... we were on the motorway yesterday, en route to the in-laws prior to catching a ferry to France. Then the rev counter and the power steering disappeared. My wife continued to the next services which were between five and ten miles further down. On arrival, the accessory belt was shredded and it was clear that the water pump was the culprit. The engine was hot and had ejected coolant through the expansion tank. When I opened it half an hour later, the level in the tank was low (not dry) but there was no longer pressure in the system. Stripping the engine after recovery last night, the water pump bearing has failed and I'm kicking myself for not spotting it - I'd recently changed the belt because it had started to squeak but just hadn't thought enough about the source of the noise, or expected it to progress this fast.
That's the background. I can fix the water pump easily enough; my question is whether it's worth re-booking the ferry for Monday or whether head gasket failure is now a near certainty. Any thoughts welcome.
That's the background. I can fix the water pump easily enough; my question is whether it's worth re-booking the ferry for Monday or whether head gasket failure is now a near certainty. Any thoughts welcome.