Date:         Wed, 13 Jun 2001 08:10:26 -0400
Reply-To:     Andrew Fox <afox@USGS.GOV>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Fox <afox@USGS.GOV>
Subject:      Re: Last call for overheating help
Comments: To: John Flaherty <jflahert@MAINE.RR.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

John's original message states:
>Radiator fan didn't appear to be coming on
>when the gauge read hot. I could place my palm on the "hot" radiator and
>hold it there comfortably. Front heater blew lukewarm air.

Does anyone think that John's temperature gauge may be giving a false
reading?  If his radiator fan is coming on when the guage gets way up there
then maybe his temp gauge is reading wrong.  Maybe he has a faulty volatage
regulator.  John, check the voltage at the voltage regulator, its behind
the tachometer.  It should be 10.5 volts i think.  Bentley shows a picture
and gives the correct volatage range.
Does anyone know the resistance values for the temperature gauge at various
levels?  Right now i'm struggling with a similar problem as John but I
figured there must be something wrong with my gauge becasue when i let the
car idle for awhile the radiator fan comes on when the heat gauge is almost
up to the upper white line.

Of course the only way to test what's really going on is to use one of
those external hose temperature sensors that nasa developed.  Maybe becasue
of internal hose deterioration the coolant temp at the engine is hot but
cooler up front at the radiator.  Anyone know where to get one of these
sensors, or what company makes them?

Thanks,
Andrew Fox
86' auto westy