Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 11:04:12 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@aol.com
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey R <Oxroad@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Thermostat Replacement (1.9 L)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 5/13/2001 11:09:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
onanov@mindspring.com writes:
> How difficult is it to remove the entire water pump?
One good wack with a hammer should get it out. But beware:
Here's my experience with changing the thermostat on the 1.9. Some say they
have been able to remove the lower thermostat housing by loosening the two
small bolts and letting the lower housing drop out or snake it out a bit.
Then take ou the thermost and put in the new being careful not to over torque
the nut on reinstallation.
However my experience was there was NO WAY that lower thermostat housing was
going to clear the exhaust manifold. So I oculd either remove the exhaust
manifold or take the whole housing (upper and lower thermostat housing) off
the water pump.
The two bolts connecting the upper housing to the water pump were frozen into
the pump--and still are. The pump is in some trash heap somewhere.
To make a long story short the bolt had been epoxyed or fuses in some way
inside the sleeve of the upper thermostat housing--hence the Upper thermostat
housing (UTH from now on) is still connected to the water pump. Trying
several clever and then several primative ways to separate the two ruined
both.
The UTH is a VW dealer only part and lists for $250. No lie. So treat yours
gently. The water pump from the VW dealer is about $120, but list vendors
have them for about $50 if you go that way. But list vendors can't really
discount the UTH much. I think Ken may offer them for $225, so there is a bit
of savings. But still...
As for taking out the whole unit and replacing it, the answer from me is I
dunno. I don;t know if you can reinstall a waterpump and have it work trouble
free. Hopefully someone else can steer you right there. My feeling would be
if you have it out why not replace it. I'll tell you why, it's expensive. OK,
there is that, but still...
Oh, and should you get the UTH off the waterpump DON'T try to take off the
flange that hooks to the rubber hose that goes to the head. Those bolts
holding the flange will surely break. I mean you can pull the thing out of
the rubber hose but don't try to separate the metal parts i.e the aluminum
UTH from the steel flange--if it is steel or whatever.
Oh and when reinstalling the water pump and UTH don't over torque the bolts
Use a torque wrench and follow the torque specs in Bently.
That's my 2 cents in and effort to save you 25,000 cents.
Good luck,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
