My wife's van's thermostat is stuck in the open position.  This is my first
failure in 420,000 miles (2 vans).  I've had a few engine swaps along the
way, so not all of that mileage is on one t'stat.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Cain" <jcain@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 8:23 AM
Subject: Re: Thermostat problem??

> >You are probably right about the faulty thermostat. I have had so many
> >thermostat failures that I replace mine every 18 months or so as a matter
of
> >preventive maintenance. For me they always seem to fail in the
> >closed position,
> >which overheats the engine. So I just don't take the chance.
>
>
> Is this true for others?  I have an '85 Westy with about 80,000 miles
> and wonder if I should look at it.  Does the replacement require the
> "raise the front end" coolant purge of a complete coolant flush?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim in Atlanta, with Herbie