Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (March 2002, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sun, 24 Mar 2002 20:03:30 -0600
Reply-To:     Marshall <mjruskin@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marshall <mjruskin@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Coolant/Heater
Comments: To: Deon Reynolds <d@DEONREYNOLDS.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

You definitely have air in the cooling system, and that's why it goes hot and cold on you.

You need to (absolutely must) get the cooling system bled of air - I am surprised your shops didn't suggest this - maybe you never mentioned it.

Have this done properly by a shop experienced in Vanagons - that someone that you trust has used.

You may also have a stuck thermostat - that could be a good reason it never warms up - other listees may have more ideas on this that just this one.

Marshall Ruskin 84 Westy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Deon Reynolds" <d@DEONREYNOLDS.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 03:21 PM Subject: Coolant/Heater

> Hi All, > > Last month I drove my 1987 Vanagon Syncro from my home in the > northwest corner of Oregon (at sea level) to Carson City, Nevada in > one day (660 miles). Half way I pulled off the road for lunch at > 5,000 ft. and discovered coolant pouring from the overflow bottle > (behind the license plate) Nervously, and watching the temp gauge I > drove on to the next town. (the temp gauge stayed almost at the > coldest point) the folks there said "is that a foreign car?" So I > kept on driving. Occasionally stopping to check the coolant level. It > never overflowed again, but the flow going into the bottle was > bubbling a few of the times that I checked it. I made it to J&J VW > Vans in Reno. They checked out the cooling system for leaks > (pressurizing the system). He checked the thermal switches, etc. > finding nothing wrong, except the pressure release valve of the cap > on the back side of the overflow bottle did not let out over > pressure. The cap was replaced. So I drove on to my final > destination, and back home, another 1,400 miles. The temp never > climbed above the white line at the bottom of the gauge. And the van > didn't seem to have any loss of power, or did I loose any coolant. > (J&J suggested I watch the coolant level) Now that I'm home I have > noticed the coolant level had dropped (very little) So I topped it > off, the next day I checked it, and now the coolant is too full. Also > I have noticed at times the heater will warm up then suddenly get > cold, and doesn't get warm again. Its been into my local shop and > they could not find any problems. > > Any thoughts? > > Deon Reynolds > 1987 Vanagon Syncro > 1985 Golf > 1963 Land Rover IIa 88 (For Sale) > http://www.deonreynolds.com


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.