Date:         Thu, 4 Apr 2002 19:27:45 EST
Reply-To:     VW85Westy@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Peter Krogh <VW85Westy@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Running hot, what can be the matter
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Here's the problem:
According to the temp guage, the van is running at a higher and higher temp
as time goes along.

I put in the low temp fan switch from the bus depot in the fall, and that
made the fan kick on at low temps and was keeping the van very cool.  As time
(several months) has gone by, the operating temp has gone from below the led,
to having the needle rest right above the led (1/2 led showing).  I replaced
the fan switch, but that did nothing for the problem.

I just had the thermostat replaced, ($190ARRGGHH, and no price estimate from
the shop!), and on the drive home the van was running even hotter.  I tested
the old one, and it appears to work fine.

What do I do now?  I still have the rising coolant problem, and now I have a
high heat problem.  Is there a reliable engine heat measurement?  Do I swap
out temp sensor?

Known Stuff:
Radiator Fan Works
Fan Switch Swapped out last week.
Cooling system pressure Tested
CO2 in Coolant test negative
New Radiator and long pipes.
New Motor
New Thermostat

I am so frustrated by this that I want to scream.  $6800 of engine work in
the last year, and now I'm considering parting the van out.

Nobody in the mid-atlantic region seems to have any idea what to do with
these problems.
HHHHHHHHEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP
Peter