Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 15:40:19 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: On the Road Again - NOT!
In-Reply-To: <532CBB8A.9030706@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Take the rear seat out if it's a Westy and remove and throw away the plugs
that cover the holes in the floor under it (or the carpet if it's a tin
top). The coolant will drain out without causing as much of a problem next
time. BTDT more than once. Those cores are a bit pricey too now, over $100
last time I checked.
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
JRodgers
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 3:22 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: On the Road Again - NOT!
I have found the problem - more or less. It is some kind of failure at the
rear heater. The heater hoses are good, no seepage anywhere, the
summer/Winter valve is relatively new (if 5 years old is new on these
vans) I replaced the original 5 years ago. The heater itself looks clean
- no wet spots covered with dust. but the bottom is wet, and the in tire
interior carpet between the front seats and the back seat is soaked.
I've got a big clean up job ahead.
I was beginning to think in terms of a top overhaul before all this
happened. There is no real way to accurately access any damage that may or
may not have occurred, but the engine was rebuilt in year 2000 and runs like
a champ. Burns a little oil, but has 150,000 on the rebuild and has spent
most of it's life in city traffic so it's getting close to time.
Regards,
John
On 3/21/2014 4:31 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Out of curiosity was the engine up to temperature before the failure?
> After ten miles it should have been. While you didn't see the steam if
> you heard gurgling there was also boiling or flashing as coolant
> flashed off and cooler came back in contact with the hot stuff. These
> are the events the water boxer is not tolerant of. Your engine has
> suffered a trauma. May not be a problem immediately but these are the
> events that needs to be avoided to get long life out of these engines.
>
> Common leaks in the front include the heater hose fitting on the water
> pump inlet pipe, The hose on the t-stat housing, crossover hose, and
> the housing itself. A head gasket is also a possibility.
>
> Hopefully it is something easy to fix. Good luck.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of JRodgers
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 2:03 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: On the Road Again - NOT!
>
> Took Ol' Red out for another run this morning. So I tooling down I-65
> about
> 10 miles out of town when the low level warning light comes on. O kept
> speed to maneuver through traffic to the side of the road and while
> I'm maneuvering temp gauge needle rises so the bottom of the needle
> just barely touches the top of the little flashing red light. Then I'm
> off the road, engine off, and coasting to a stop. Stopped - I can hear
> water gurgling/boiling but no steam. Then I look under the van and
> coolant is pouring front the front of the driver-side rear tire to the
> rear of the driver-side front tire.
>
> Clearly - I have a cooling system issue.
>
> God Bless AAA! They came to my rescue and Ol' Red is home. Now for
> another round of Vanagon Ownership Fun and Games!!!
>
> John
> .
>
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