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Date:         Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:36:23 -0400
Reply-To:     "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Overheating Advice

ben:

good chance problem is (i) air in system or (ii) failed closed thermostat.

(i) many good posts on air bleeding technique. critical detail: holding engine @ about 2000 rpm. may have to bleed at both front and rear (expansion tank).

(ii) loosen clamp on cold exit hose FROM radiator and see if coolant pumps out - if so, flow through radiator and likely failed closed thermostat. probably best to loosen clamp at thermostat housing.

40 psi can damage system. be gentle.

dan

On Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:53:46 -0600, Ben Cichowski <cichowski@MONTANA.EDU> wrote:

>Hi All, > >I'm pretty new to owning a Vanagon - bought an '88 Wolfburg Weekender in >Iowa and drove it back home 1300 miles to Montana with very few, if any >problems. > >Now, it is overheating. It did this only for very brief moments on the >interstate drive back home, but now it does it all the time. I've searched >through archives and tried nearly everything (I'd be glad to write this up >to share with other newbies, but want to get to the question at hand). >Thought it was the fan/thermo switch at first....but.... > >The hose feeding coolant to the radiator is hot, and the one exiting is >cold. I'm thinking both should be fairly hot (within 20-30 degrees of each >other at least) So, I'm down to two possibilities (I think...) > >1. Plugged radiator - I completely pressure flushed out the radiator and >filled with the proper mix of fluid (this did not work). The passenger side >of the radiator gets warm, but the driver's side does not. It stays cold >enough that the fan does not turn on (I've check or replaced every >possibility associated with the fan as a few things needed to be done >anyway- switch, resistor, fan motor, fuses, etc). > >2. Weak water pump - according to the guy who sold it to me, he put in a new >water pump 5K ago, so I am guessing it is not this?? > >Do any veterans have advice? >Is there a RIGHT way to trouble shoot this? > >I think I am still looking at a plugged radiator. I got water to flush >through it under garden-hose pressure, but a lot of grey water came out and >I know 40 psi is a lot more than what the water pump puts out. I am living >on Montana wages with a new baby on the way so I am hesitant to take a >chance on buying a new radiator for 200 if it is just a guess. Please Help!


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