Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 15:38:24 -0400
Reply-To: Walt Spak <wnsopc3@3rdm.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Walt Spak <wnsopc3@3rdm.net>
Subject: Re: HELP Flashing red temp light!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Ron,
It's 70 degrees and you are not riding a Guzzi?
If the temp gauge was in it's normal position, I think you did not actually
over heat. You state that there is no sign of leakage. There are 2 tanks
to concern yourself with. The overflow tank is the one behind the license
plate. The expansion tank it accessed from under the engine compartment
cover. In the top of the expansion tank, there is a sensor which controls
the light. If the coolant level drops a little, the light comes on. It
really has nothing to do with actual temperature. Typically, when the
coolant is a little low, the engine is hot, some condition causes the
coolant to drop below the sensor, which turns on the light in the blinking
mode. You can turn the key off while driving, the light will go out, only
to come back on when the coolant drops a little again.
The first thing to do is let the engine cool completely (like over night),
Then run the front wheels up hill as high as you can. Remove the coolant
fill cap from the expansion tank. Add coolant with one hand, while holding
the throttle open to about 3000 RPM. As you race the engine, you will see
the coolant level drop. When you get it as full as you can, put the cap
back on. THEN let the engine speed come back down. If you let the engine
return to idle with cap off, the coolant will back up over the tank, hit the
exhaust, smoke you out & stink up your Westy. Then top up the over flow
tank.
The next thing to do is to watch the coolant level for a number of weeks to
see if it is going down rapidly. If you find that you have to add coolant
every couple of weeks or so, it is time to start looking for leaks. It
could be one of the plastic components, a hose, a heater core (you might as
well check the rear core now[under the rear seat]), the radiator, or the
dreaded head gaskets.
If you find that the head gaskets are leaking and you don't want to deal
with that, I want to buy your Westy. As is / where is.
The fan switch is screwed into the lower left of the radiator. I believe
you take out the lower grille to get to it. They do go bad from age. If
you have air conditioning, you also have a big resistor behind the left
headlight that gives you the 3rd speed. They commonly go bad.
I do not really believe that phosphate free is necessary. I have been using
Prestone Extended life that is phosphate free, but I do not recommend it.
It seems to find leaks that regular antifreeze does not. I think that
changing if regularly is most important, but I wouldn't change your until
you determine whether you have leakage or not. We can talk about this more
in Angiers.
By the way, it is common to have leaks from the head gaskets that come & go
as temperatures change. It is more common to have that happen is the fall
than in the spring, but that might be the case. I have had several 2.1
vanagons that required a coolant top up ever 4 - 5 weeks, but otherwise ran
just fine.
Don't forget! If these problems become overwhelming, I want to buy it.
Walt Spak
Pittsburgh, PA.
wnsopc3@3rdm.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Komoroski <motresyklman@lynchburg.net>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 1:56 PM
Subject: HELP Flashing red temp light!
> Listees,
> If all this info exists in an archive please direct me off list.
> Vehicle '87 Vanagon westy, 54k miles (really). It was first purchased by
an
> anal-retentive retired engineer located in New Mexico, the vehicle is
> gorgeous and has been perfect, until this problem.
> Yesterday we headed down the road, running 60ish on a 4 lane, ambient temp
> about 70 degrees F, when I noticed a flashing red light located in the
> temperature gage <SNIP>
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