Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 05:40:02 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: Need Suggestions-Wierd Overheating
In-Reply-To: <53.ece6bb2.2e07c87e@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I'm with Mark Seifert on this one.
Cheap enough to change out the thermostat. Be caution of your source.
Some aftermarket types/brands will show in the catalogs that they fit
the vanagon when in fact they don't, and there is a sticking problem.
Sometimes intermittent sticking as it trys to open and close because the
fit is not correct.
Also, if the thermostat were sticking in the closed position, it would
overheat rapidly, AND the rapidly building pressure caused by the
rapidly expanding coolant would most likely blow the coolant sensor
right out of the expansion tank. BTDT. Happened to me twice. If this
happens, you will most likely have to replace both the coolant level
sensor, AND the expansion tank. The process destroys the threads and you
can't tight seal after such an event. BTDT also.
If not the thermostat, then most likely a plug in the radiator
somewhere. With this type of problem a good flush, refill, and bleed is
always in order. With CLEAN, fresh coolant after the flush job, and the
system has been bled of air, have a sniff test on the coolan. If it
checks ok, run it hard for just a bit, then have it tested again. I
suspect a blockage somewhere though, rather than gases leaking into the
coolant. If that were happening, you would be getting the coolant system
pressurized above operating pressure and as the gases displaced the
coolant there would be a hellacious bubble in the expansion tank, even
to the point of dumping coolant overboard.
It may be that you need someone to go over the thing with one of those
infrared heat sensors to see if you can get a pattern on things.
BTW, aside from this OH problems, sounds like you got a nice rig.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Chris Dixon wrote:
>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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