Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2023 14:32:17 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Confessions of a blind mechanic
In-Reply-To: <40FF0E90-C20E-4E71-B5AA-5E1EFF1627EF@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Correction, date on radiator is 2020, not 2000.
> On Mar 28, 2023, at 1:39 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>
> So folks,
>
> Things don’t always go perfectly.
>
> But, so far my most recent mess ups seem to be working out ok.
>
> I was excited to find a South African radiator from 2000. Hoping it is one of the rare good ones. The unit was triple packed and had the most desirable radiator name on the outside.
>
> So, I wanted to get everything done so a friend could help me bleed the system.
>
> Mistakes began to happen.
>
> I put on the hoses in advance and as a expert stopped in I asked him about the sensor install and he installed it.
>
> I then positioned the radiator with fan shroud in place and got it onto a wide jack.
>
> I double checked position and location of wires and fan and sensor plugs.
>
> New bushings on the radiator and time to put into place.
>
> I raised very slowly and kept checking for wires and anything else that might be caught or out of place.
>
> Slowly, slowly, check, check again.
>
> Then a sound, a sort of metal crick. I looked everywhere for the source. And then noticed, the temp sensor sticks out of radiator and was under the metal of the van.
>
> My heart stoped. I lowered the jack a bit and moved the radiator to clear the sensor.
>
> I felt all around it and all seemed good.
>
> I had thoughts of a destroyed radiator.
>
> What to do? Well keep going. Hope for the best.
>
> Slowly continued and then put in the lower brackets all seemed good.
>
> Attach the two rubber hoses and pipes. I marked the position of each with tactile markers.
>
> I added coolant back and massaged hoses and then pressurized getting a gallon in. I opened the radiator bleeder and then put a couple pounds of pressure in the tank and got more coolant into the system.
>
> But then I noticed coolant at the front. I looked and realized the lower bracket was pressing against the hose clamp screw. Had this messed up the hose? Or worse cracked the radiator plastic.
>
> I lowered the bracket and adjusted the clamp to a better position.
>
> Re check. Still a leak.
>
> Then I realized. Maybe the radiator bleeder?
>
> I closed it and put a few pounds in. No leaks.
>
> Later we bled the system and hit a bump when my friend messed with the bleeder.
> But, system was likely fully pressurized.
>
> No leaks from sensor, no leak from front hoses and connection areas.
>
> So, maybe these blind person errors didn’t do the serious damage I was afraid of.
>
> But, only time and a fully running system, and a fan turning on and off will see.
>
> Fingers crossed.
>
> I try so hard to be careful but sometimes bad luck and no vision get me.
>
> But, more often then not, good luck and care get me through.
>
> So, darn it, mistakes happen.
>
> Now to get that new rear bleeder on and see if I’m good to go.
>
> Eric Caron
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