Date:         Fri, 13 Aug 1999 08:31:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: High coolant temperature 87   need help
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Volks,
    Many thanks to the list and all who responded. Volks we have many
talented people on the this list who are so giving of their time.  Kay had
to hit the road before we had his high temperature problem resolved. With
the help and ideas from the many who responded here are some thoughts /
ideas I have on his problem.
    Most of our vans have a stable temperature with the thermostat partially
open.  Kay has no coolant circulation to the radiator until his thermostat
is fully open, thus the 10 degree higher temperature than normal at the
thermostat housing and also  shows up on the gauge as 3/4 instead of 1/2 of
full pointer movement. The fully open  thermostat seals off the
recirculation path to the engine and the coolant is forced through the
radiator.  His van must have air in the system, blockage, or a defective
water pump. He is heading to North Dakota and will be in cooler temperatures
soon and plans to go to bbta in September. If you see him, 87 titan red
westy from Florida, wave and pass this information on. Also tell him he was
right it isn't the thermostat. I changed it three times.  We had lots of fun
and my wife Jolene and his SO Valeria had more fun watching two opinionated
hard headed dutchmen working on a volkswagen.
Darrell


----- Original Message -----
From: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 3:40 PM
Subject: High coolant temperature 87 need help


> Hi Volks,
>     I have been working with a friend and fellow listee Kay Fremgen on his
> 87 westy van with ac and at  that has every symptom of a thermostat that
> opens too late. The instrument cluster gauge is functioning correctly and
> shows a higher reading than normal operation (1/2 way between the led and
> hot). The thermostat seems to be opening about 10 C degrees too late thus
> the engine coolant loop seems to be a little too hot. I have tried three
> different 87 degree  thermostats the last one I pulled from a van that
> functioned correctly.  The left and right  hoses at the thermostat housing
> are 10 degrees hotter than a normal van (one the has the temperature gauge
> sitting  at the led).  After circulation begins the radiator gets hot and
> the fan goes on and off at the correct radiator temperatures. I am stumped
> and looking for some fresh ideas. tia
> Darrell
>
> Ps. I am not only relying on the van gauges I have verified the reading
and
> temperatures with a temperature probe.
>