Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 20:36:18 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: Overheating; I4 Jetta conv; water pump ( a bit long)
In-Reply-To: <430B80EDAA292242B986CCCC2E2084F60282ED@COBVS1.city.burnaby.bc.ca.proxy>
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You've gotta burp the cooling system - there is an air pocket in there. I
would also recommend to get the original two tank system back in there as
well. Remember, when bleeding the system to rev it up to 2500 rpm and let
it sit there. Remove the 13mm bolt from the rad and remove the lid from the
tank in the rear. While the motor is revving start pouring coolant into the
tank until COOLANT WITH NO FROTH comes out the hole on the rad. Put the
bolt back in and keep the motor revving - keep adding coolant until it just
starts to come out the coolant tank. Put the cap on and keep it running.
At this point there should be a warm to the touch / hot radiator and maybe a
few bubbles in the expansion tank. I keep this happening until it gets good
and hot and the rad fan switches on and off. Then I see if I can add more
coolant to the tank - if so - keep filling - if not - open the bolt on the
rad and see if only water and no froth comes out - if it is only water and
it won't take any more water in the rear tank then you are almost done. The
next part relies on the engine and water cooling to finish the job - this is
where the 2nd tank by the licence plate comes in - when the system cool the
water contracts and it will start sucking from the 2nd tank - make sure
there is coolant to the MAX mark in this. Usually it takes about 2 warm /
cold cycles for the syphoning to stop. I know this sounds like a long and
drawn out process, but this is how I do it and once it is done the over
heating stops. If it doesn't I would suspect a different problem like a bad
head gasket.
David Marshall
Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of MacLachlan, Bill
Sent: October 16, 2002 4:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Overheating; I4 Jetta conv; water pump ( a bit long)
I'm in the throes of sorting out the cooling system, and some other
opinions would be welcome....
A friend ( who knows the vehicle) drove it across town for ten minutes
or so Saturday, and it started to overheat. She turned on the heater to
get some more cooling going, and pulled over at the earliest chance,
parked. Well done I say!
But odd. The system was working fine the day before. In downtown traffic
too.
I took the van back home next day, found a warm hose to the rad, cold
one to the water pump. Replaced the thermostat with one I tested. No
change. Hear hiss of air when warm engine is turned off. Noticed water
coming from the water pump housing when engine running ( remember this
is an I4 1800 jetta motor, with an I4 jetta one hose expansion tank).
Pulled the pump and housing apart. Housing has
corroded/worn/disintegrated from the inside and there is a pin hole in
the housing allowing water out & air in.
Replaced entire waterpump & housing with new one. Top up with water as
test. Still hot engine/cold rad. Took out thermostat and ran engine with
no thermostat. Hot engine cold rad and cold heater. Pulled rad hoses
with engine running.
Got very wet. Ick. Ick Ick Turned engine off.
So there is water going to rad! Pulled radiator. Took to shop. Flow test
shows water runs through, but because of the "baffled design" of the rad
( shop guys words) it is difficult to tell how good the rad is. But the
suspicion is that radiator is working well enough. Conclusion: one huge
vapour lock in the system somewhere........that is completely stopping
water from circulating through radiator.
Now, I've replaced the fluid/bled the system in this van before, (
pulled the radiator; changed the expansion bottle; changed the heater
core; dealt with leaky expansion tanks) and done it with the non
standard expansion tank I'm using, but I have never had a problem like
this one....
Oh great and widely experienced list, any suggestions?
Bill M.
'82 Jetta powered GL ( in several pieces at the moment)
