Date:         Tue, 24 Aug 1999 09:34:44 -0700
Reply-To:     Pete Cassidy <pcassidy@APPLE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Pete Cassidy <pcassidy@APPLE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Coolant Explosion '86 Syncro
Comments: To: John-Reed Maffeo <rlpa80@EMAIL.SPS.MOT.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

John-Reed Maffeo said:

>I don't know how else to describe what happened. It was about
>108F. on Sunday. I drove about thirty miles on the freeway. When
>I stopped and turned of the ignition, coolant exploded from the
>white tank, blowing out the black screw-in sensor on the top.

Wow!

>The expansion tank was dry so I suspect that something that
>should be working is not working properly (like the cap on the
>white plastic tank).

Sounds like the 2-way pressure cap on the primary coolant tank
was bunged up. Something was bound to give .....

>The threads on the tank seem to be buggered or maybe the sensor
>threads are stripped in either case they don't fit without a lot
>of teflon tape.
>
>Suggestions? What all should I plan on replacing?

Replace the primary coolant tank. Get one from Ron at
Bus Depot. I bought one there a few months ago - they're
ridiculously cheap for the OEM part & comes with a new pressure cap.

Note: You *must* replace the rubber washer on the coolant sensor
before it's re-installed (assuming it's not been wrecked!). I
was warned, didn't replace it when I changed the tank & coolant
leaked all over the place ...'

Check the hose to the expansion tank, too. Just in case ....

>Thanks,
>
>John-Reed Maffeo

Pete C

--
Peter Cassidy,                     pcassidy@apple.com
'88 Wolfsburg "Muriel"           *not speaking for Apple*