Date:         Fri, 2 Mar 2007 08:41:53 -0500
Reply-To:     Blake Sartin <sartin@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Blake Sartin <sartin@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Overheating...or not?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Howdy all,

My '84 Vanagon had a crazy temperature gauge for a few weeks, it would jump up to max and the light would flash the second you turned the van on.  It would settle out later and start to read correctly.  

So naturally, I assumed that the sending unit had gone wonky, and I procured one from the local FLAPS.  I believe it was "Brooks" brand.  This solved the crazy needle problem, but now the temps are reading to the high end of the gauge!  (Before they were alnost always within 5-10 degrees of the light unless you idled for a while)

My next step was bleeding any air out of the cooling system, which I did find.  Phew!  I thought that everything would be fine until I drove it again...no change in temp.  Checked the bleeder again when I got home to find that there was NO air in there now.  

This is in addition to my normal problem of not being able to get the radiator fan to work.  I have changed its sending unit, tested its fan, and replaced its fuse, all for nada.  Any ideas on that one?

To sum up:

1.  Changed temp sender and now magically the engine runs hot
2.  Cannot make the radiator fan come on without the aid of a jumper wire across the terminals

Thanks for any help that anyone can give.

Blake Sartin
Moderator, Bus-Life List
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/bus-life
'69 Westy
'84 Vanagon
Maryville, TN