Date:         Sun, 2 Dec 2001 10:54:46 -0800
Reply-To:     PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Subject:      To Bleed or Not to Bleed?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My power & phone are on again, after being off most of past two days--N CA
is having a horrendous storm, with high winds, rain & hail.  Two giant trees
came down this morning on a semi, flattening the cab; driver escaped serious
injury.  So--hope my power holds a few hours while I catch up on email & get
list advice.

Here's a recap:  A mechanic advised a pressure test of coolant hoses as part
of my pre-trip check list.  It was the *only invasive proceedure he did.
The rest was bolt tightening & check of charging system.

Since, the LOUD sound of gurgling/surging fluid I hear in front & rear,
which I myself was sure to be air in the cooling system--has been verified
by dozens of list opinions & the opinion of another local VW mechanic.

From this list's responses, I've now learned that the mechanic FAILED to
*open the valve to the rear (auxiliary) heater.  While a few list members
have suggested that this air in the coolant is no big thing, I suspectl
otherwise--as did the majority of list members who p-mailed their responses.

So, before I leave for Mexico I must attempt to find someone I can count
(what are the odds?) on to do this bleed.
Obviously, I'll NOT return to the offending mechanic, who botched the job
(@$72 per hour)--but sent me off in the dark during a major storm with an
hour's drive home over a steep, winding two land road.

I now know that the heater valve must be OPEN when the coolant is bled.
Is there *anything else I should know about?
(Please, no more suggestions that *I do this myself.  For many reasons, out
of the question.)

Thanks guys & gals,
Phaedra
'85 Westy "Basecamp"