Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 08:34:24 -0500
Reply-To: Vanagon man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vanagon man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Van runs hot in traffic jams
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Something I have done, for my van does the same thing, and i hate to see the
coolant gauge go high like that.
I installed a toggle switch on my dash that is connected to the high speed
fan wire. It is a 3 pole switch, with a constant hot, a ground, and then
one wire spliced into the hot wire for high speed on the fan.
Thus, when I am in a long drive thru, traffic jam, etc., i flip the switch,
and I keep the temps low the whole time. It took about an hour for me to
install.
Adam P
81 Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Kriss" <carat90@LYCOS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 7:33 AM
Subject: Van runs hot in traffic jams
> Have a 90 Carat with an auto trans. Engine has maybe 150K on it. The van
runs fine, minimal oil useage and almost no coolant useage. Normal driving,
running around town, or at 60mph on the highway, the temp guage always stays
cool below the idiot light in the center of the guage. But when I get stuck
in a traffic jam, after a few minutes the van runs hotter with the guage
needle above the idiot light. I was stuck in a 5 mile backup in NYC Sunday
night moving along between stop and go up to maybe 15mph. (over an hour of
creeping along). Outside temp around 35 degrees. The needle was above the
idiot light and once or twice the fan went on. Van never came close to
overheating. Air flow I'm sure was probably minimal in front of the van.
Once through the backup, and up to a steady 40+ mph the needle went below
the idiot light. Rest of trip van ran cool.
>
> Warmed up the van for 15 minutes yesterday morning and needle never went
above the idiot light. Running around town for an hour or so yesterday, van
ran cool as usual.
>
> What goes? Is this normal?
>
> My guess is that the cooling syatem is a bit under-designed for traffic
jams.
>
> thanks
>
> Greg
>
>
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