Miata Mailing List: September 1999, Message #109

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My water pump belt broke today on my way to work.  The temp gauge went
to H but I think/hope I caught it before any major damage occurred.  After
letting it cool, I drove/coasted, heater blasting, the remaining couple
miles to work without the temp gauge getting hot.

Now I have to decide whether to leave it here or limp home.  I live 10-13
miles from work, depending on the route I drive.  I can go city streets
or highway, highway being a little longer.  If I drive home, I'd drive
with the heater on and leave the engine running only while getting up
to speed and then turn it off and coast for a while.  The other option
is to get a ride home and get my tools and other car and come fix the car
at work and then get another ride to work tomorrow morning to drive the
Miata home tomorrow evening.  It would be simpler to limp the Miata
home if I can do it without damage.  What should I do?

Note 1 - I got really lucky as I probably haven't driven 50 miles since
returning from a 2000 mile trip from Dallas to Steamboat Springs, Colorado
and back.  It would have really sucked to have had this happen on the road.

Note 2 - IF no serious damage has been done, my use of Mobil 1 oil
and Redline Water Wetter MIGHT have saved the engine.  Of course it's
nearly impossible to prove that damage would have occurred without
these products' added protection, but it's nice to have that little
extra margin of protection that these products offer.

Matt
Dallas
'95 White PEP