Date:         Wed, 9 May 2001 16:22:23 -0700
Reply-To:     Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
Subject:      2.1 coolant woes

Hello all,

I'm tearing out most of the little hair I have left over this.  I am not
getting coolant circulation on my '88.

I'm trying to bleed the system, and not getting any coolant to the radiator.
It has a new water pump and I've attempted this with the thermostat in and
with the thermostat out.  I have disconnected the lines/hoses and forced
water through them, and they seem to all be open.  I can force water through
the radiator, and also through the engine block.

The van had been sitting for approximately two years with the engine in the
back seat.  I installed the engine, using the Bently as a blueprint.  I've
double checked and all of the hoses seem to be in the correct locations.
After it's been running for a few minutes, it starts to get pretty darned
hot, and I run out of courage and shut it down.

Is there anything obvious that I'm missing here?  I suspected possibly a
blockage in one of the main coolant lines, but forcing water through
indicated that there was no blockage.  I am getting some heat out of the
front (didn't check rear) heater.

What happens inside the distribution tower?  Is it possible that a baffle is
broken off in there and doing some blockage?

I can trouble shoot a 1.9, but especially since this was in a shoebox when I
got it, I'm having some real problems finding my way around a 2.1.

It's also running poorly and quite rich, and I'm suspecting some clogged
injectors, but I'll get into that later.  Right now I'm just trying not to
melt the damned thing.

Thanks in advance,

Karl Wolz