Date:         Tue, 16 Jul 1996 10:43:19 PDT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Shawn Wright" <VWNUT@smus.bc.ca>
Subject:      Re: '83 overheating

On 16 Jul 96 at 7:52, Tony Moore wrote:
> 
> My '83 GL is having overheating/cooling problems. To give you a brief 
> background, I bought the van 3 months ago. This is my first water 
> cooled VW so this whole thing is a mystery to me! At the time of 
> purchase, the fuel and water temp guages were not working. I replaced 
> the voltage stabilizer and all seemed well. The temp guage read from 
> 2/3 to 3/4, rising only with very extended idling. Now, the guage rises 
> steadily to full mast and the light may or may not blink. I keep 
> checking the coolant but it seems fine, the temp from the resevoir 
> reads about 190 F when the guage is at full mast. The only work I've 
> done since the voltage stabilizer is to replace the alternator.
> 
> Can anybody give a basic account of the proper procedures to test and 
> 'set up' the cooling system?
> 
Sounds like the same symptom I got in an '83, which turned out to be 
a stuck thermostat not opening enough (or at all). Could also be air 
caught in the system somewhere. 
Check the temperature of the hoses at the front - if they're only 
warm, then its the thermostat. I'd replace the thermostat & bleed 
the system first. Then check that the fan switch will come on after 
prolonged idle. If not, replace the fan switch.

Shawn
'88 Westy 332k (Kyra)
'85 Jetta TD 350k (Jenni)