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Date:         Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:20:49 -0400
Reply-To:     "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Overheating Advice
Comments: To: Ben Cichowski <cichowski@MONTANA.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <C31FCE9A.1591%cichowski@montana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Ben,

I had thought that my Radiator was good enough, but was advised by a great Vanagon mechanic, that changing it to new was the best thing I could do for my new motor. And what a difference it made! My van has never run cooler! If you have any doubts, just change it now. Keep up with regular flush and fills, being sure to "burp" every bit of air out of your system and BE EXTRA SURE to us a phosphate free coolant! Your new Radiator will provide many years of good life. It is likely that the prior owner did not care for the cooling system as well as you intend to do!

Good luck!

Jack R. N. of Detroit, 84 Westy Wolfie, with a 2.1L Syncro Motor 2nd owner, purchased in 1987. Fully restored... in process of new front brakes, bearings, rotors, etc. Hopefully in time for the Kelley's Island Campout!

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Ben Cichowski Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 10:54 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Overheating Advice

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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