Date:         Sat, 26 Jan 2002 02:42:38 -0800
Reply-To:     Matthias Kuster <choreboy@CNMNETWORK.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matthias Kuster <choreboy@CNMNETWORK.COM>
Subject:      `Cont'd:  After 3000 mi trip: 84h2o overheating,
              grinding gears(manual trans
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi, Class:)

So: Overheating problem:

I replaced the water pump, checked the thermostat on my stove in a pan, and
it works fine, still left it out, though. My heater hoses and the radiator
inlet hose (bottom of two fat ones on top of engine bay) do get warm,
especially the heater hoses. I removed both radiator hoses in the engine
bay(those two thick ones), and I do get water coming from the engine side on
the lower one (rad inlet?), but nothing returning , or coming out,  of the
top one, no air, hardly any water, just a little water dripping. I
disconnected the hoses right after the plastic bleeder. The hose from the
thermostat housing up to that bleeder valve is getting warm, too, but not as
warm as the heater hoses. Now: Even with the back of the van 1 foot raised,
I do not get any water at the radiator bleeder screw, and the hoses leading
up to the radiator don't get warm, at least not before the van overheats.
It's gotta be the radiator is bad, right?? Recommendations on flushing vs.
replacing??

And then: Gear shift problem

I am unable to shift the trransmission into 1st and reverse without severe
grinding, 1st gear a little easier, both while the engine runs and clutch is
depressed. Could it be my clutch is not disengaging completely?? I felt a
lot more play in the pedal, then did this:
I checked the fluid in the master cylinder: All kosher, right at the max
mark. Then I went about bleeding at the slave cylinder bleed screw on top of
transmission. I did this with a Mity Vac, and I seemed to be getting a lot
of air bubbles, and very little fluid. ?. I think the Mity Vac way isn't all
that, even with the right adapter, and I need to bestow some passive
aggressiveness on my buddy to help me do it old school. Until then.
But: I pumped the clutch pedal a bunch of times, with the bleeder screw open
and a hose attached to it with a little jar. I pumped and pumped, but there
was hardly any brake fluid coming out of the bleed screw. And the level in
the reservoir did not go down, not a hair's breadth. Fishy, I'm thinking.

You guys think I should replace the master and slave cyls? Slave cyl is
about 11/2 yrs old. Do I need a trans rebuild, or just the proper Redline
lubricant?
I did a compression test on her and replaced the spark plugs: 165-175 psi
all around. How much life can I expext out of this engine? It still feels
strong.

As I am going to order the radiator on Monday, I am wondering if new master
and slave cylinders are up for replacement, too. Or new transmission(duh).
The transmission was fine until it overheated and the clutch started feeling
like it had more play.

Gee, thanks for reading.

Cheers

Matthias in L.A.
1984 WBX 1.9Man
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