Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2023 11:37:25 -0700
Reply-To: Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Confessions of a blind mechanic
In-Reply-To: <92E949D5-E912-426A-A65C-7F0D35CEF2C8@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
hi Eric,
Have you heard and consider using of Subaru coolant conditioner?
On Tue, Mar 28, 2023 at 11:32 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
> 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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