Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 18:46:00 -0800
Reply-To: Tanja Bomb <dabomb@TANJABARNES.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tanja Bomb <dabomb@TANJABARNES.COM>
Subject: Re: Overflow puking water
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>> Da bomb is traveling and her van is puking water out of the overflow.
>> Mechanic found radiator cap bad and replaced and it's still doing it.
>>
>> Any ideas beyond head gasket leak into the water system?
> Under what conditions is it doing it? After climbing a steep grade,
> after a run on the interstate, around town, all the time, immediately? Can
> the problem be alleviated by running both heaters?
I took a drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco, via I-5. Steepest part of
the drive is over the Grapevine with an ascent to 4,000 feet. No problems.
I was driving for about 3 hours when I pulled over and the temp light
blinked at me, but the car was not overheating. The overflow tank was
puking fluid. The expansion tank was pretty low, however, there were no
apparent leaks in the system. I only have one heater, my front one. Light
still blinks even when I have it on.
> Can you see a stream of bubbles flowing into the reservoir or does it happen
> pretty much at once?
Please be a little more clear about this question...
Anyway...
I managed to get it to Terry Griffin, of Griffin Autoworks in Berkeley.
Very helpful guy; he's on the Vanagon list of recommended mechanics. I can
see why: he opened his shop to me on a Sunday -- his day off -- to help me
out. He pressure tested my rad cap, found that it wasn't holding any
pressure. He got a new one out, tested it and placed it on my vehicle. He
then bled my system and I returned to LA. I saw him do all the procedures
myself because it was just me and him in the shop.
Exactly 3 hours later, at the same gas station as on the way up, it happened
again. Same symptoms.
I've had the heads rebuilt at 150,000 miles. The car now has about 167,000.
I called Mike from the road because I was totally freaked out and I wanted
to hear better news than what the symptoms were telling me. I am out of
warranty as of 2,000 miles.
I just got home and haven't been able to get it to my mechanic yet.
Meanwhile, my head is reeling with anxiety. Please guys, please advise
here. I'm still in denial that this could be "worst case scenario".
Love and Rockets,
DaBomb