Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 23:49:25 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Subject: Re: 91 overheating & temp guage question
Sounds like you have an electrical problem, not an overheat problem. Real
Overheating will also be accompanied by boiling out the coolant. As for
checking the temp gauge and other cooling system parts, I recently purchased
an infrared temp probe that connects to a voltmeter. Can now test all sorts
of cooling system parts with out disassembling things. Particularly
thermostats and fan switches. Omega.com even has some meters with the probe
built in. Mine is a Fluke cost under $150.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Malcolm Stebbins <Malcolm.Stebbins@MSVU.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 1999 11:38 AM
Subject: 91 overheating & temp guage question
> My 91 syncro over-heated, My question: How do I test the Temp Gauge?
> has anyone ever heard of temp gauges going only half-way up and not
> continuing to register a 'hot' engine?
>
> At first I was understanding as I was going 5 KPH in granny gear on a hot
> day (33 C) for 20 minutes and the rad fan was cycling on high. When I
came
> to an idle (deep in the back woods), the engine quite and I had to let it
all
> cool for 20 minutes to get it to go again, it would start but not idle,
like a
> piston was rubbing in the cylinder.
>
> But then driving back home on the highway - as I down-shifted to turn on
to
> my street, it quite again. - but again all was OK after 20 minutes. This
was
> un-forgivable!
>
> During the whole trip, the temp gauge NEVER went above the red dot (1/2
> way mark)!!!!!
>
> Oil level is OK, There is/was coolant in the reservoir, today I 'blead'
the
> radiator and only a tiny wisp of air came out. At idle, there is coolant
being
> pumped back into the reservoir.
>
> The ONLY thing I can think of is that (re a previous post) I had
everything out
> of the van. and I wanted to test the rear heater for leaks and for this
trip I had
> the valve open and I did not have the rear fan 'on'. I believe that this
might let
> hot coolant circulate back into the engine. (no coolant leak at the rear
> heater).
>
> I have been on the list for 2 years and I do not recall this being
discussed. I
> might say that the van has worked flawlessly in the 2 years I have owned
it.
> Thanks, Malcolm
| 
