Date:         Fri, 29 Nov 2002 22:10:54 -0500
Reply-To:     "A. Widoff" <rompu@MHCABLE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "A. Widoff" <rompu@MHCABLE.COM>
Subject:      87 vanagon with oil pressure(?) trouble
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

hi there all,

wish i had something other than novice questions to contribute to this
list...

background: išve had problems for a while, especially during the hotter days
of summer which seems pretty normal for these engines.  typical oil light
and buzzer going off when engine gets a real workout.  occasionally over
this summer the van would lose all power and Išd have to pull over and let
it sit for a while.  Then it would be fine for another stretch.  I found
that by leaving the cover off the engine compartment I never really ran into
trouble anymore, but the stereo listening environment was severely
compromised.  What I could never understand is that I never saw the
temperature gauge go particularly high during any of these episodes.

now: I recently took a longer trip where the belt to the water pump broke.
shortly after that, the pump itself broke.  since the water pump was
replaced i have the oil light and buzzer problem even when the outside
temperature is cold.  there is also a distinct but faint burning smell.  it
does not seem to be leaking antifreeze and the temperature gauge reads
normal all the time (obviously when the pump and belt blew out the gauge was
pinned high).

The other day it occurred to me that perhaps therešs a specific coolant that
this system needs to function correctly?  I wouldnšt be surprised if the
mechanic who installed the pump didnšt know anything about it.  Išve taken
it back to him and he canšt come up with a good theory of whatšs going on.
Any ideas / suggestions greatly appreciated.

THanks

Tony Widoff
Hudson NY