Date:         Mon, 18 Jun 2001 14:22:26 -0400
Reply-To:     Andrew Fox <afox@USGS.GOV>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Fox <afox@USGS.GOV>
Subject:      coolant bleeding/overheating problem?
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

If anyone can offer advise on this one I would be greatly appreciative
since I am stumped:

Van is an 86 Westy auto w/ around 100K miles.

About 2 months ago my coolant gauge started working intermittently and then
stopped working.  Before it stopped working it read about 1/2 way during
normal driving.  I needed to replace the rear heater core and front heater
control valve so I decided to replace everything at once and do  a coolant
flush and fill at the same time.

So 2 weeks ago (took a while to gather up all those parts) I replace the
coolant gauge sensor, bled the system and the temp gauge read about 3/4 of
the way up while idling.  I let it idle fast and the radiator fan kicked in
when the gauge is about 7/8 of the way up.  I check the voltage regulator
on the insturment cluster- looks good.  I call Ken and order up a new
sensor in case the new one in there is defective.

Last friday I change the sensor with a second new one, installed the new
rear heater core and heater control valve.   Then i flushed the system by
installing a flush tee on the front heater core return line.  Then I start
filling and bleeding using a combination of all the various methods.  While
bleeding I noticed several possible oddities:  The coolant coming out on
the radiator bleed screw came out intermittently.  It would come out slowly
(with air bubbles) then stop for a minute or so then start flowing slowly
again, don't know if this is normal since this is my first vanagon coolant
change.  Also, the radiator bleed screw bubbled air and coolant for about a
half hour, again I don't know if this is too long or not.  After bleeding
and filling the temp gauge still reads about 3/4 during normal driving and
the radiator fan still kicks in when the gauge is about 7/8 of the way up.

Have I just bled the system improperly?  Should'nt the radiator fan come on
when the gauge is a little over the red blinking light?  If my van is
really running hot then my radiator fan should be staying on all the time
right?  Could a weak water pump cause lower coolant temp at the radiator
than at the gauge temp sensor (maybe this would explain the intermittent
dribble of water flowing fromt the radiator bleed screw)?  I also noticed
that my radiator is'nt in perfect shape (some of the cooling fins are
rotted).  Unfortunately I can't afford to replace the H2O pump and radiator
when I don't even know what the problem is.

Many thanks,
Andrew Fox