Date:         Sat, 17 Mar 2001 22:46:03 -0800
Reply-To:     Daniel Schmitz <djs@GENE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Schmitz <djs@GENE.COM>
Organization: Genentech, Inc.
Subject:      Damaged cooling pipe/2 "T" connectors present (long)....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The saga continues regarding replacing all the cooling components on my
'87 Westfalia. More observations:

1) One of the plastic pipes that goes from the rear of the van to the
radiator has a broken "lip" on the end (supposed to secure the hose from
slipping off), and the metal reinforcing sleeve had moved about halfway
out of the pipe. It is still into the pipe far enough to support the
hose clamp, but I was unable to tap it farther back into the pipe, so I
just installed the hose and clamped it. I don't know what other steps to
take. It seems to have been caused by the plastic becoming brittle at
the end. I'm hoping it will hold.

Anyone had this problem?

2) I ordered and received the hose kit for an '87, 2wd, manual
transmission with alloys (Bus Depot Hosekit #6). All the hoses are
correct and are now installed, except two hoses that go to the rear
heater core. I don't know if the listing is wrong, or if VW made a
running change during production, but the hoses I received, although
correct by part number and application, don't match what's on my van.

My camper has two plastic "T" junctions that are right next to the
transmission. It appears that these both go to the rear heater core.
However, this doesn't look like any of the illustrations, and
furthermore, the heater hoses that come with the kit don't work. My van
is a manual transmission, thus no trans cooler.

Problem hoses are:

a) Hose that goes from the driver's side metal pipe, across the
transmission and into the heater, PN 251 265 058. This hose is way too
short to make it the entire length needed. Also, the hose I received has
a bend on one end and increases in diameter to about 1". I have no idea
what it is supposed to connect to, and I don't see a hose like it on my
van. The PN is correct by application, but is not what's on my van.

b) Hose that goes from the plastic coolant distributor to the heater, PN
251 265 056. In this case, I received a straight length of hose that is
too long relative to what it is supposed to replace. It's supposed to
connect the plastic coolant distributor to the rear heater, but I have a
"T" junction between these items. Again, PN is correct by application.

Finally, the hoses that go from the aforementioned "T" junctions TO the
heater cores are not included in the kit, or at least it doesn't look
that way. I haven't yet disconnected the rear heater core and pulled the
hoses off, but it seems that a lot more heater hose is needed than came
in the kit.

I'm thinking that I can simply use 5/8" or 3/4" bulk heater hose instead
of the hoses that I received.

Can anyone tell me if they have similar hose configuration to mine?

Please reply via p-mail.

Thanks,

Dan