Date:         Mon, 1 Feb 1999 11:51:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject:      No More Pancake Syrup!
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Yeah, 

I finally replaced the rear heater core in my '90 Carat.  (The old one had a very slight leak, and it was dated 1992.  It did not have a bleeder screw on it, yet it  had the same name as the new one I got from The Bus Depot.)  I guess you only get a few years out of these things.  I noticed that the valve does not completely close off the coolant flow -- it just slows it down.  Now, maybe my 4 year old will quit complaining about the smell back there!

I also replaced the O rings on the coolant temperature sensors.  I should have drained the pressurized plastic bottle first, because most of it ended up in my bucket, but some of it ended up all over me.  Now, my only leaks are from the head gaskets!  As a victory celebration and pressure test, I had to drive to the local recycling center to dispose of my spilled coolant and several gallons of used oil.  I also had this old, dead refrigerator in the carport that was taking up room because I haven't yet got a trailer hitch on the van to haul it off with.  Then I noticed that with the theater seats flipped up, it fit on its side perfectly in there.  Sometimes we wonder why we own Vanagons -- but it was all worth it again to see people's faces when I opened the sliding door and singlehandedly extracted an apartment-sized refrigerator!

Michael Townsend


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