Date:         Wed, 17 Mar 1999 20:08:07 -0500
Reply-To:     ColForbin <colforbin@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         ColForbin <colforbin@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: *LONG*coolant light blinking, temp soaring and dropping,
              spor...
Comments: To: Dagbear@aol.com, vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I still don't receive list in e-mail, so I am going to just post this
out of order.

First, thanks for all of your replies.  I got a few suggestions to bleed
the cooling system. So, this evening I raised the van in the front about
18 inches, removed the bleed screw and started the engine.  I ran the
engine at 2000 RPM for a little bit.  Some air came out and I let
coolant run out for a while.  Then I closed the valve and drove around
the neighborhood.  The coolant sensor light acted up. Same thing, going
down hill light comes on and temp soars and uphill light goes off and
temp goes down.  Sooo,  raised the van again and tried the same thing.
It appeared that more air came out and then coolant for a while.  Also,
the temperature gauge never moves unless the light is on.  It stays
pegged to the bottom, even  when I know that it should register
warmer.???  I just left the van for a few minutes.  I'm going out after
it cools off to top off the expansion tank.  I was going to test the fan
but it came on as I was bleeding the system.=)   I guess my next step
will be to replace the thermostat.  I'm at a loss. Again, thanks for all
who replied.

Colonel Forbin
'85 Westy
Grnvl, SC
colforbin@mindspring.com




Dagbear@aol.com wrote:
>
>   I would suggest that you bleed the cooling system to remove trapped air.
> Air trapped in the cooling system inhibits the movement of coolant through the
> system. If you don't have a copy of the manual which details the procedure for
> bleeding the system let me know and I will e-mail it to you.
>
> Rico
> 84GL
> Munford, Tn.(20 miles north of Memphis)