When this leak happened to us, I found that the coolant was coming from a
hairline crack in the plastic fitting, not the gasket.  Got a new fitting
from the dealer and surprise, it's not plastic anymore.  Now it's very
substantial metal.  Along with it came a flat fiber washer rather than the
original "O" ring.  I think that you got one superceded part without the
other. Better get the metal fitting.

Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Rehkugler <trehkugler@JUNO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 3:25 PM
Subject: Parts Questions for 89 Vanagon

>       I have an 89 Carat AT that has developed a leak at the passenger
> side head hose that goes to the driver side head.  I went to the dealer
> and got a flat fibrous type gasket part number 861-819-297.  Upon taking
> the water pipe fitting(part # 025 121 171 ?)off the head I found a very
> different rubber gasket that fits in a grove in the water pipe .
> Please help me figure out if I got the wrong part from the dealer.  The
> rubber gasket that was on my van is very skimpy looking. No wonder it
> leaked.                                                         TIA
>     Tom Rehkugler
>                                          Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
>