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Date:         Mon, 30 Dec 2013 20:30:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Progress with my 89 Bluestar project
In-Reply-To:  <2F19018D-E972-48D9-BD3E-E55B1C368A0C@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On Dec 30, 2013, at 8:28 PM, Steve Cotsford <cotsford@aol.com> wrote:

> Well following a Christmas break and allied events, today I was able to work on my Bluestar again. Its an 89 not an 88. I got that wrong.

> I managed to get hoses connected to the radiator and back, not exactly factory spec but new hoses with adaptors etc. My intention once I know what i have is to perhaps replace them with factory hoses. > > I was able to crank the 2.1 engine that came with the van (uninstalled, incomplete and not original) and it made several noises but I persevered until things ran much better. I ran it for about 1 hour and 1/2. I added antifreeze and distilled water. This time I was actually able to get fluid into the radiator (having hoses makes a wonderful difference :-)) and eventually It became warm and I was able to use the bleeder. > > The engine made a tapping noise that sounded like a valve to me. After about 1/2 hour of running it quietened down so I think a valve was a bit sticky and it loosened up. > The oil light kept flashing in a very regular manner. I was of the opinion that the oil pressure was OK and I checked the oil level and it showed OK. > After about 1/2 hour I stopped and re-cranked the engine and the oil light went out in a normal manner.The oil dipstick was showing clean oil up to the mark. > The water temperature gauge kept flashing red so I watched it carefully. I kept adding antifreeze and distilled water until I was pretty sure every thing was full. Coolant came out of the rad bleeder and the rad became warm right to the top. The coolant needle went to about 1/4 of a space beyond the mid mark and it stayed there. The rad cooler fan would start running and then turn off after about 1 minute. A few mins later it would do the same. I had the heater turned up and it blew pretty warm but not excessive. It seemed pretty normal to me. The rad was warm. The hoses were all feeling right, the needle stayed put, a bit above the 1/2 way mark but the red light keeps flashing. When I revved the engine, I saw coolant running into the reservoir from the hose that runs around the engine bay. I need to understand why the red light flashes all the time. > > Right now the engine is running very smoothly and very quietly. Idle is about 900 rpm and very smooth. Exhaust is regular although I still have a sensor screw to replace just before the oxygen sensor and cat converter. It revs freely and I have have run it up to 3000 rpm briefly a few times. There are no strange noises now. They all seem to have quietened down. I briefly moved the van about 2 feet in 1st and back in reverse. The alternator is charging at about 14.2 volts. The power steering seems quiet and the steering wheel moves smoothly and strongly. All the belts look normal and straight. The main pulley was single groove and I replaced it with a 3 groove pulley and it looks straight. I have not yet tried the a/c. > > My questions are simple. Why did the oil pressure light flash so regularly then disappear after restarting. Why does the coolant red light flash when the temp seems right and the cooling fan works regularly and the heater seems to act normally. > > Thanks for any advice :-) Steve


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