Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 10:04:37 -0700
Reply-To: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: The vanagaon temp gauge is crap
In-Reply-To: <40DC4CD6.8030406@videotron.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Ben,
It is broken if after warm up and going down a long
hill with a good thermostat the needle does not reach
just below the red dot light. If your needle is much
lower than that you can't expect the gauge to be of
much use. It needs to be fixed. A temperature
sensor is about as much as two six packs of good ale.
You and Larry need to make some serious sacrifices
here to get the gauge working.
David at dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET may give you some
sensor output numbers if you have a ohm meter.
He is my favorite electron wizard from the east.
bon chance, gary
-- Ben <huotb@videotron.ca> wrote:
---------------------------------
Gary, it's funny but i do agree that he gauge is a
good reliable tool,but it's never well calibrated, by
that i mean that it's always at adifferent position
from one van to another!!! Now, if there is way
tocalibrate thsi one, please let me know!!!!
Second, Roadhaus had an history of bad gauge reading,
no first speed onfan, fan kicking to fast in second
speed (temp check with infraredgun), we did replace
the 2 speed module but NOT the rad sender (moneyand
time is missing on Larry's side), i also suspect the
temp gaugesender... only part we didn't replace!!!
What i can tell you is the following, fan kick in in
second speed whenthe temp gauge shows 1/3, well bellow
the RED led in the dash, at mostin heavy traffic the
gauge whent close to the led (1/2 way) but nomore....
all i know for now is that engine is running in the
normaloperating temp.
But like you said, the gauge will rise a bit in
traffic and go down onfreeway, but this gauge doesn't
use the full possibility, by that imean that nomatter
how hot the engine is, it will never go over the
redled light (Expention tank / overheating LED)
So if you have some good suggestions, please feel
free... i have spentcountless hour lately fixing many
many many small and big problems onRoadhaus, now am
tired and i have a business to run, so suggeation
arewelcome........... many on the list don't like my
style so i won'typost often.........
Thanks.........
Ben
gary hradek wrote:
Ben, I have to disagree strongly. The lack of
numbersis intentional because numbers are not what
isimportant. All vanagon users need to calibrate
their tempgauge. Three points of interest need to
becalibrated. First where is the temp gauge when
the thermostatopens completely. Second where is the
temp guage when the low speedfan kicks on. Third
where is the temp guage when the high speedfan kicks
on. Once calibrated any change from these
calibratedvalues should be viewed with extreme
suspicion thatsomething is wrong and not with the
gauge. One other value that cannot be calibrated
is howhigh should the gauge go to while the high speed
fanis on going up a hill on a hot day. How high
beforeyou turn the heater on to drop the gauge a
bit.If you loose any coolant you are running the gauge
toohigh? I for one feel the gauge is the most
reliablepart of the coolant system.. garyDate:
Thu, 24 Jun 2004 13:25:51 -0400From: The corruptor
<huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>Subject: Re: head Gasket
again!!The vanagaon temp gauge is crap..... if you
want agood reading of head /engine temp, buy a aircool
head temp gauge withsender.there is only 2 reasons
that the head gasket did blowover pressure or bad seal
of the gasket.-bad sealing head side of the gasket,
the use of arecommended sealant is amust...also, if
the matting (head side) is to flat anspolish, the
sealantwon't stick for long.... this surface as to be
roughup!!!-Have a coolant pressure test
donehttp://www.benplace.com/pressure_test.htmThis will
tell you about head cracks or a coolantcomponents
failure.And change that extpansion tank cap.All outer
aftermarket head gasket i have seen areclose to crap,
i wouldonly use OEM VW head
gasket.Benhttp://www.benplace.com/vw.htm
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