Date:         Thu, 26 Feb 1998 15:48:16 -0800
Reply-To:     Malcolm Holser <mholser@ADOBE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Malcolm Holser <mholser@ADOBE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Cold blooded
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM

This turned out to be the thermostat, and after I got it out I recalled
reading something on the list in the past about this very problem.  The
thermostat (and presumably the one I replaced as well) got stuck in the
open position.  There is a round stainless steel plate on the bottom of
the thing, that shuts off the return flow to the engine when the thing
opens.  This plate is a little too good a fit in the thermostat housing,
and wedged itself into place, making the thermostat always open.  The plate
does not seal on the edge, though, but on the center.  The outer diameter
does not seem important other than causing this jam.  I ground about 1mm
off all around the disk, and all is working fine.  What I recall from the
past was a warning about aftermarket thermostats sticking, and this was
apparently what happened to me.  It is amazing how good the radiator can
be on a Vanagon -- with this open, the engine just would not get warm at
all, even sitting idling, with no air flow over the radiator at all.  In
thinking about it, I realized that I almost *never* hear the radiator fan
come on on any of my Vanagons.  I guess it must be the cool summers we get
here in central California.  Now the needle sits just above the LED on
the temperature guauge, and the defroster cranks out hot air again.

Thanks for the responses -- and be aware that aftermarket thermostats have
this "feature".  I don't know if the 2wd Vanagons would have this problem,
since they use a different thermostat housing, and it is the inner bore of
this part that catches the plate.

Malcolm


> I got the Kombi back on the road -- it is an '86 Syncro, but it won't
> get the engine warm.  I have always had trouble with this van running
> a bit cold, but lately it won't get warm at all -- it stays in the lower
> white arc all the time, even uphills.  I put in a new thermostat to no
> avail.  The engine will get warm to the touch, but the "crossover pipes"
> stay cold, and the heater blows cold air.  The only thing I can think of
> is to try *another* new thermostat, and perhaps check out the thermostat
> housing.  Has anybody experienced this one before?  The van runs well --
> it got 20.3mpg last tank in mountain highway driving.