Date:         Mon, 17 Dec 2001 19:52:07 -0500
Reply-To:     Kenneth D Lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kenneth D Lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: coolant woes
Comments: To: fergusrh@YAHOO.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Ric;
        Is the resevoir clear enough to see into? A low coolant level
will also cause the temp needle to peg. Best case scenario (relitively
speaking) is an air bubble in the system.
        On the bright side; a new radiator and battery are very good
insurance as most are nearing the end of their life cycle.

Good Luck and Drive Safely
Ken Lewis
86 Crewcab,60 356
http://Neksiwel.20m.com/

On Fri, 14 Dec 2001 23:27:00 -0800 Richard Ferguson <fergusrh@YAHOO.COM>
writes:
> Hi Volks,
> I have had a time with the coolant system of my 85 Westie...and it
> does
> not seem to be resolved yet...first the flange between the coolant
> reservoir and the hoses blew out on the freeway. VW no longer makes
> this part so I had to search until I found one luckily at Walter's
> shop
> in Lafayette, Indiana. I had to hobble up the road a ways when it
> blew
> but I didn't run too long overheating. So this was replaced and I
> began
> noticing that the temp gauge would rise after driving on the
> highway
> then coming to a stop at a light. This is still happening. So I took
> it
> back to the shop and they said I needed a new radiator so we
> replaced
> that...same problem persisting only this time the radiator temp
> sensor
> went bad...can you imagine not replacing that part when putting in
> a
> new radiator???so the fan ran continuously until the battery was
> depleted. I was able to jump the van but when the shop fixed the
> radiator sensor they said the battery would not hold a charge so I
> had
> to buy a new battery! I am thinking about disputing the charges on
> all
> this with the shop as they really seem to lack the diagnostic
> skills
> that are the reason I took it to them in the first place. The fan
> switch has also been replaced...the thermostat has been checked and
> the
> indicator in the coolant resevoir. The same problem is
> persisting...after driving on the highway and coming up to a light
> or
> whatever and idling the temp gauge shoots up like the van is
> overheating. What could this be? It never did anything like this
> before
> the coolant H flange had to be replaced.
> Thanks in advance for any advice,
> Rick
> 85 Westie
> 2.1 upgrade
>
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