Date:         Sun, 20 Jun 2004 22:37:52 -0700
Reply-To:     Mark Seifert <ubervanagon@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Seifert <ubervanagon@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need Suggestions-Wierd Overheating
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

It doesn't really sound like the thermostat to me, but it wouldn't hurt
anything to replace it. Thermostats usually get stuck closed or stuck open.
Once they open up, they usually dont move as long as the temp stays above
their opening point. A thermostat that is stuck closed will cause the engine
to overheat quickly, and stay there. It won't get any cooler from driving
it.

If the fan is coming on when it should, then I would rule that out. Sounds
like it might be a plugged radiator or something. Maybe try flushing it.

Mark


>From: Chris Dixon <Jahsurf@AOL.COM>
>Reply-To: Jahsurf@AOL.COM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Need Suggestions-Wierd Overheating
>Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 01:13:34 EDT
>MIME-Version: 1.0

>
>Ok, So I bought Veronica Fraga's amazing, unbelievable Syncro -- check
>roadhaus.com and click on Veronica's makeover at the bottom of the page. It
>has an
>odd overheat problem that I was aware of when I bought it (2.1 L WBX). I
>think
>the problem is the thermostat but would welcome some insight/confirmation
>into
>this.
>When I test drove the van, last week -- the temp light came on and the
>needle
>went up to about 2/3 when it was idling after driving about ten minutes.
>Pulled away from light and it quickly went out.
>Drove the van three hours around Orange County in traffic on Friday. The
>needle stayed a third of the way up for two hours - no problems. Fan came
>on as it
>should. Highway/city driving. 75 deg or so outside.
>Drove it home tonight (STOKED!!!). Got about a mile away from her house,
>and
>the needle seemed to be where it should. Stopped to get gas, fired it back
>up
>and the needle rapidly climbed to the red and the light came on. It got
>9/10
>up and obviously I pulled over and shut it down. Called Veronica, and she
>suggested to turn the heater controls up - front and rear, and to turn the
>AC
>controller just enuf that the front fan came on. Did this, and, of course,
>the
>needle fell and the van ran cool on the flat highway.
>Climbing a decent grade for two miles, needle again climbed just above half
>(heater controls on) and then going downgrade, got cool again. Rolling thru
>my
>town toward home, stop and go, it climbed to 2/3 to 3/4 and red light was
>on
>(controls still on). The rear heater I realized was partially covered by a
>piece of plywood. So it got air circulating on the hiway with the windows
>down,
>but not in town driving slow. (it was really hot in the back of the van)
>Seems to me, that I was getting all my cooling thru the heater cores -
>hence
>the rapid heating up when the car was sitting fairly still or climbing, but
>at
>speed on the highway in cool air, enuf cold air over the cores to cool the
>van. I figure I've got a sticky thermostat. Or some wierd, scary problem
>with
>the heads tranferring hot gasses to the coolant. I was planning on
>replacing the
>motor anyway, but would like to wait if I can. 'Cause the motor actually
>runs
>quite well -- aside from this damned cooling gremlin.
>Suggestions?
>DIXON

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