Date:         Thu, 28 Dec 2000 23:09:01 -0500
Reply-To:     Brian Honan <bhonan@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Brian Honan <bhonan@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      WINTER COOLANT LED TO PROBLEMS
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

hello list,
On Christmas eve my van blew a hose and the coolant sensor failed to tell me
that I ran out of coolant. I had blown a hose a few days before and the
sensor did work. I believe that I have a bad thermostat because I had a
small leak from the housing that I was foolishly putting off fixing. I
filled the system (bleeding it the best I could) the next day and noticed
that it did not suck the coolant from the filling expansion tank. The inside
expantion tank was empty I figured it still needed coolant from when I fixed
the blown hose. I let it idle a while I loaded Christmas presents and all
seemed OK. Not far from my house I loose heat, then going up a hill ( I am
taking it easy ) the OIL LIGHT comes on !
I pull over the first chance I get and the van is running fine.

  The engine had allot of steam coming off it and another blown hose in the
engine compartment. I decided to have my brother pick me up and have it
towed it is to cold to fix it on the spot and I don't know how bad it is.
When I went to have it towed it was dead, the batery may be dead.

So my Question to anyone who may be still reading is did I kill it?
      I am going to change the thermostat and housing and the hose that
broke and hope I didn't blow the heads. Is there any connection to the not
cranking at all ? And when I do put the system back together should I have
it pressure tested?

Happy Holidays

Brian Honan
87 GL
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