Date:         Mon, 11 Jul 2005 19:33:24 -0400
Reply-To:     Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don in North Carolina <vanagondon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: alt. light and overheating UPDATE
Comments: To: Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@ipa.net>
In-Reply-To:  <6.2.1.2.2.20050711150407.0321e110@pop.ipa.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On 7/11/05, Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@ipa.net> wrote:
> Updater:  Put a different cap on the expansion tank and drove it on the
> highway this morning.  following time table and temps.
>  1:30 seconds  80 C
> 3:00 100C
> 4:00  Stop for gas
> 8:00 Resume driving  100C
> 11:00 103 at 65mph and 80 Degrees F outside air
> 11-23:00 stable at 103 C.
> 
> some in town driving afterward and filled the overflow tank to max(was at
> min. but no leaks, so can't explain that) and the temps climbed back to 110
> after 10 min of in town driving.
> 
> Any clues here?  NO low speed fan so maybe the thermo switch or resistor is
> toast.  Don't thik it's the water pump...anyone agree or disagree.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Max

Max,

First, the easy part.  Assuming that you have A/C, remove the grill
and pull the plug on the temperature switch (upper left hand [front is
front] side of radiator).  Using a short jumper, connect the Black
wire to the Red/White wire - the fan should run on low speed.  Then
connect the Black wire to the Red/Blue wire - the fan should run on
high speed.

Since you are getting the high temperatures at freeway speeds, I would
assume that your radiator is plugged and needs to be replaced. That's
about where I am with my '88, too.

-- 
Don in Reidsville, NC
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
"Why do they call it a fixed income, if mine is always broke?"