Date: Fri, 7 May 1999 19:59:54 -0400
Reply-To: "Jon Higgins (by way of Derek Drew <drew@interport.net>)"
<jhiggins@TELEBYTE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Jon Higgins (by way of Derek Drew <drew@interport.net>)"
<jhiggins@TELEBYTE.COM>
Subject: Euro-Elec: FIX 87 Volkswagen vanagon, temperture gauge
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
*******************************************************
Sponsoring members may rate this FIX post
or add/view comments directly from this link:
http://members.iatn.net/c/c.cgi?i=8334&t=euro
*******************************************************
1987 Volkswagen vanagon 2.1 L
Trans: Standard
Mileage: 122,000 mi
VIN: WV2ZBO25OHH013498
Affected Item: temperture gauge
___________________________ FIX: ___________________________
The four things that were suggested were, cleaning the
terminals at the instrument cluster connector, cleaning
grounds above the fuse block, checking the voltage limiter
on the cluster, and replacing the temp. warning module. I
did the first three, then put the van through it's paces.
The temperature is no longer affected by the headlights.
The frustrating thing about this job is that every time we
turn around the symptoms change. Now after a long drive and
an extended idle the engine gets up to 235'F and the gauge
hits the hot line. IF the engine RPM is raised to 2000 RPM
the engine temp. comes down to normal. We replaced the
radiator and thermostat and the temperture is staying right
were is should. Thnaks very much.
____________________ ORIGINAL MESSAGE: _____________________
Hi everybody.
This van originally came to us with the complaint that at
an extended idle the temperture gauge would go up to the
hot line. The heads had been replaced by the dealer about a
year ago, but since the owner does not drive the van much
he could not say if the problem had started after the head
work. We found the radiator fan was not coming on. After
replacing the fan switch and bleeding the system as per
Alldata procedures, the fan cycled normally and the engine
runs between 200'F and 207'F, [as measured with an infrared
tester at the left head]. After several test drives we
noticed the temp. gauge was eratic, so we replced the temp.
sender and the reservoir pressure cap. All seemed to be
working great. Now two months and 400 miles later the van
is back. After idling for 30 minutes the gauge was at 2/3
scale. When the head lights are switched on the red light
on the temp. gauges immediatly began to flash and the gauge
went up to the hot line within a minute. When the lights
were turned off the gauge went back down. The second time
the headlights were turned on the gauge and light remained
normal. We were able to get the problem to repeat several
times. I cleaned and tighted the grounds at the, battery
negitive cable to body, transmission to body, and body to
left head. This made no improvment. I can't help but think
it is a ground problem but these are the only grounds I
have found without tearing things apart. Iam hoping some of
you can point me in the direction of more key chassis
grounds, [especially the headlight ground, or give me some
thoughts on what this could be besides a ground problem.
Thanks.
Sorry for the long post.
Jon Higgins
jhiggins@telebyte.com
Technician
Hansville Repair
Hansville, Washington, USA
___________________ TEST AND REPAIR DATA ___________________
RELATED REPAIR HISTORY
New heads one year ago. New fan switch, reservoir pressure
cap, and temperture sender.
_______________________________________________________
iATN Industry Sponsors: http://www.iatn.net/atn/
iATN WebSite: http://members.iatn.net/index.asp
Guidelines: http://www.iatn.net/guide.html
To configure or cancel your iATN account see:
http://members.iatn.net/config/index.asp
