Miata Mailing List: September 1999, Message #211

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Thanks for the suggestions not to drive the car.  I tend to be the
independent type and like to take care of things myself and not put
others out, but I heeded your advice and bummed rides.

Ended up getting a ride home and back to work with tools and the belts
and it took me a little over an hour to replace both belts.  I forgot
my open needed wrenches but made do without them.  So far there seems
to be no damage: the temp and oil pressure stay where they always have,
no white plume of smoke behind the car, and no puddles underneath the car.
I guess the last test will be to see what the oil looks like (milky or
not) at the next oil change.

About the panty hose trick...  Do you use just one leg or the whole
garment?  I assume you wrap it around as tight and as many times as
you can and then tie the ends together?  Do you use the tensioners
to further tighten?

Matt

Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 22:25 -0500 (CDT)
From: Jim Creer <ojcreer@groupz.net>
To: miata@realbig.com,
    Matthew.A.Trostel@wcom.com
Subject: Re:  Broken Water Pump Belt - Should I Limp Home?

Matt wrote:


>My water pump belt broke today on my way to work.......
>...........
>Now I have to decide whether to leave it here or limp home. .....
>It would be simpler to limp the Miata home if I can do it without damage.
What >should I do?.....

Probably too late now but you missed the obvious solution.  Beg, borrow,
buy, or steal a nylon stocking or pair of panty hose.  Surprised you did
not get swamped with that suggestion.  I made it from Frankfurt to
Pirmasens with one.  The appx 100 mile trip (mostly Autobahn) showed the
panty hose a little worse for wear but it held and worked just fine.

Jim Creer