Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2007 13:52:04 +0000
Reply-To: dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Overheating...or not?
In-Reply-To: <014d01c75cd0$8a882680$e90210ac@alpha2.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Your first symptom indicates the cooling system was probably low on fluid. the 84's turn on the warning light and raise the gauge when the level is low. This often occurs on a cold engine. Once the coolant starts to warm it will expand raising the level and satisfying and turning off the light.
It is common for new gauge sensors to give slightly different readings. There are also a few versions that fall under the same part numbers. Even from the dealer, they seem to vary quite a bit.
Tha fan not turning on can be a flow related problem. Combustion gasses getting into the cooling system will cause this. You need to find out why the coolant went low in the first place. If a working system needs to be bleed, you have a problem.
Test the pressure cap to make sure it is working properly.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Blake Sartin
Date: Friday, March 2, 2007 8:43 am
Subject: Overheating...or not?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 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
>
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