Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2023 11:45:40 -0500
Reply-To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Radiator part 2 Disappointment and install hints
In-Reply-To: <CANEuo0ggXsotFb+DHKtwB0cw5Ah6GVTooHrwA8PhKzTREN7DXg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Here is the correct link to our radiator if anyone needs it. I need to
update it in the article
https://www.vanagain.com/product/vanagon-radiator
On Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 11:26 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> How to remove and replace your radiator in an 87-91 Vanagon.
>
> - By Ken Wilford
> - December 20, 2018
> - 3 <https://www.vanagain.com/>
>
> Please support us with your purchases. Here is a link to purchase your
> radiator from us:
>
> https://www.vanagain.com/shop/vanagon-radiator
>
> Instructions:
>
> Unhook the negative terminal on your battery.
>
> Put the van up on ramps in the front.
>
> You will have to remove the spare tire carrier.
>
> The spare tire carrier is removed by pulling two small C-clips back at the
> hinge area of the tire carrier. Once they are removed you can pull/tap/pry
> the large metal wire like twisty part of the spare tire carrier out of both
> sides of the large metal clam shell, until the clam shell drops down. Move
> that out of the way, and then twist the long metal twisty retainers around
> until they are upside down. This will allow you to unhook them from the
> holes in the frame behind the front bumper and they will come completely
> out.
>
> Remove the two hoses going to the radiator. I usually do this at the end
> that is on the pipe since that will allow things to drain in the neatest
> fashion. Note which hose goes to which pipe if you are unhooking the hoses
> at the pipes. I would mark them or take a picture before you take these
> loose to be sure you know which hose goes to which pipe.
>
> Once the hoses are removed Inspect the ends of the pipes and if you see
> some cracking in the plastic it might be a good time to install new
> stainless coolant pipes in place of the old cracked up plastic ones. They
> will fail and pop apart on the end if they are cracked up and it is like a
> human getting stabbed in the neck. It takes about 30 seconds for all of
> your coolant to bleed out all over the road and your motor to fry. Not
> worth taking a chance on in my opinion. You can find the new stainless long
> coolant pipes in our web store.
>
> Unhook the wiring to the fan on the rear.
>
> Remove the lower grille and unplug the fan switch and remove this a well
> (lower driver‘s side corner).
>
> Next you want to trace the AC hoses back about two feet from the condenser
> and remove all of the clamps that hold the lines to the body.
>
> Now you should be able to drop the radiator, fan shroud and condenser
> straight down and then tilt it back so the condenser is face down on the
> ground (have something soft to sit it on).
> Remove the fan shroud (10mm head bolts) and set it to the side.
>
> There are two phillips head screws on the top of the condenser. Remove
> them and the radiator hinges away from the condenser. Now you can install
> your new radiator and put things back together.
>
> PS these instructions are very similar for the earlier 83-85 Vanagon
> except the AC condenser is different and the radiator fan wiring is
> different. The radiator fan wiring just unplugs so that is actually easier.
> I think you can unhook the condenser from the radiator from the front and
> then leave the condenser in place. You may or may not have to unhook the AC
> hoses from the condenser for the radiator to come out. If you have an early
> Vanagon with no AC you don’t have to worry about this stuff at all.
>
> On Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 11:14 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Great tips and info.
>>
>> I will see if the ground has already been changed or get that done.
>> One thing, Is there a gasket needed for the changing over of the
>> temperature sensor?
>>
>> Any tips on that process?
>>
>> The sensor plug came off nicely and boot looks to be in great shape.
>> Possible that some things are very new as there was a radiator change 2
>> years ago and the bill seemed crazy high so maybe some parts were changed
>> but not listed on the bill.
>>
>> This info is so important as I’ve not done the job before and can’t look
>> at the pictures!
>>
>> Eric Caron
>>
>>
>> > On Mar 10, 2023, at 10:33 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Defective, damaged, and poor performance is very common for parts these
>> days. Comes with the business. That radiator went through a lot to get from
>> the factory to you and every time it was handles there was a chance for
>> damage.
>> >
>> > For changing This you may want to get some help. The retainers for the
>> spare have to come out. The 84 should have a quick disconnect for the
>> radiator fan motor. The radiator with fan and housing get dropped down as
>> an assembly.
>> > The screws holding the fan housing to the radiator are basically large
>> sheet metal screws, self-tapping. Be careful to get them going in straight.
>> > When putting back resist temptation to make the brackets too tight. The
>> radiator needs room to expand. Just snug against the rubber grommets.
>> > Consider replacing the fan switch. They are a wear item especially for
>> the low speed as that actually carries the fan motor current.
>> > The 251-959-481K is probably the best compromise choice. The 85C low
>> speed will still run the fan more than needed. In very hot weather the fan
>> may even turn on as you come off the highway. Since AC vans run the fan
>> whenever the compressor is running this really is not a problem. This is
>> what you have on your 85.
>> > From the electrical failure perspective the ground for that motor goes
>> up inside and is connected to one of those star connectors above the fuse
>> box with a 1/4" quick slide. These burn up just like the headlight grounds.
>> Consider cutting the ground and connecting with ring terminal and screw
>> closer to the radiator.
>> >
>> > Dennis
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
>> Eric Caron
>> > Sent: Friday, March 10, 2023 8:21 AM
>> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > Subject: Re: Radiator part 2 Disappointment
>> >
>> > Hi folks,
>> >
>> > I forgot to share the radiator name I'm planning to install.
>> >
>> > It is the Spectra Premium CU357 Complete <
>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fr.html%3FC%3D1J5XCI1YHU425%26K%3D3PI050IMQ0GY1%26M%3Durn%3Artn%3Amsg%3A202303100150113d392c0b077e4824835186c3d180p0na%26R%3DL86WAMI0L7OK%26T%3DC%26U%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.amazon.com%252Fgp%252Fproduct%252FB000JZUPM4%253Fref_%253Dpe_1811570_136791410_E_Asin_Title%26H%3DKJG9EGHADWCGZ9XPAN4B6W4G24AA%26ref_%3Dpe_1811570_136791410_E_Asin_Title&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ceef787183a214a93a44008db216a59eb%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638140512936376990%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jp34spM8K5bIWVg%2BM8mUv3IBnrDUjD5vZwYSX5pfcQg%3D&reserved=0
>> >
>> > Hopefully the next one arrives shipped more safely packed.
>> >
>> > Any tips on putting in the sensor in the new radiator or how you
>> approach the steps to changing it out is appreciated.
>> >
>> > Eric Caron
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >> On Mar 9, 2023, at 9:52 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
>> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> I Folks,
>> >>
>> >> I started the radiator change out today by unpacking the new radiator
>> that arrived while I was away.
>> >>
>> >> I chose to go with the one from Amazon.
>> >>
>> >> Sadly, it arrived loose in a box and was poorly packed. The box had a
>> pushed in spot and the radiator had the same shaped spot pushed into the
>> cooling fins.
>> >> I decided not to take a chance and have requested a new one and
>> will have to return this one.
>> >> I hope the next is packed better.
>> >>
>> >> I have this radiator on my other van and it does keep my van very cool.
>> >>
>> >> I was looking at FCPEuro options for the warrantee but could not
>> get several browsers on my computer to work with the site. Also, I'm not
>> sure the design on the available options there are correct.
>> >> I don't know the name on the one Ken is selling but it does
>> sound nice. But, that one has only been around I think for 3 years so
>> still young to see if it is a laster.
>> >>
>> >> So, back to the drawing board. If the next one arrives loosely packed
>> and damaged I'll move to another option.
>> >>
>> >> Now, for an important question.
>> >>
>> >> When IU remove the temperature sensor from the old radiator to put in
>> the new one is there a gasket or something to keep it from leaking?
>> >>
>> >> Is this reusable from the old one or where do I get it?
>> >>
>> >> As I can't read the Bently and I plan to give changing this out a shot
>> as a solo job, any tips are appreciated.
>> >> If you have done this job and can describe the steps, I'd be very
>> grateful. I may be figuring it out as I go.
>> >> I'm planning to raise the front end a bit.
>> >> Remove one bracket from radiator to access hoses and get them off the
>> radiator and move them out of the way.
>> >> Then after radiator drains I'll work on lowering it down.
>> >> I've never done this.
>> >> So any tips on how to deal with the fan or connectors or anything else
>> appreciated.
>> >> Also is this a good time to sound deaden behind the
>> radiator?Description of steps in the process greatly appreciated.
>> >>
>> >> For any new folks, I'm blind so verbal descriptions of the work from
>> this list is what I rely on to do many independent VW van repairs.
>> >>
>> >> Eric Caron
>> >> 84 Westfalia.
>>
>
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