Date:         Mon, 14 Apr 2003 06:51:16 -0400
Reply-To:     shawn luft <shawnagan@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         shawn luft <shawnagan@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      Re: Replacing coolant level sensor?
Comments: To: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

At least 12 months is better than 12 hours!

Did you pick up a Bentley Book by any chance?  At least then you can set out on the
road, knowing that if anything goes you've got proper documentation to fix it.

Best regards,
Shawn
Montreal, Qc.


Shawn Wright wrote:

> While checking over our '88 Westy before heading out next week, I found
> one source of a mysterious slow coolant leak - the coolant level sensor in
> the left hand tank. There was a pool of coolant around it, and signs of
> crusty coolant on the tank. I dried it off, and after an hour of driving, it was
> wet again. Is there a trick to replacing this sensor and minimizing the
> amount of air let into the system? I was thinking of parking the van facing
> downhill, and possibly removing and raising the tank before undoing the
> sensor. Has anyone tried this?
>
> I am also getting a faint coolant smell from the front heater core, so I
> suspect the other slow leak may be there. My coolant level has gone from
> 'Max' to 'Min ' in about 12 months, which I was trying to ignore since
> coolant change time is coming up. I don't want to risk ignoring the leaking
> sensor, as it appears identical to the sensor that failed without warning in
> my Jetta and caused rapid coolant loss.
>
> I guess the good news is that the coolant appears to be avoiding the
> combustion chambers... ;-)
>
> Shawn Wright
> http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
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