First of all: Merry Christmas, everyone!

2nd: I would really appreciate some shop recommendations on the north side of
Atlanta. I'm near Vinings, Sandy Springs, etc. At this point, I would choose
quality work over price since I have had some nagging problems that need to
get fixed and stay fixed.

3rd: I was hoping that maybe some folks on the list could enlighten me on what
might be causing one of these nagging problems.

My van (an 85 GL - 1.9L waterboxer) has been continually threatening to
overheat (and has boiled over
twice) in the last several months. the typical situation is that the light
suddenly starts flashing (the actual temperature reading seems to have nothing
to do with it) and the temp guage shoots up to the top. When I check it, the
coolant level is usually quite a bit above the max line, but not about to boil
over. often, the light will turn off soon after. but this cycle repeats
itself. I have driven it hundreds of miles with this situation (most recently
from Phoenix to Atlanta). When this happened on the highway, it usually
occured after a long downhill stretch and occasionally would stop after an
uphill stretch. Both times that it actually boiled over, it occured
after I drove on the on the highway for 30+ minutes, ~10 minutes on surface
streets, and after I came to a complete stop. Throughout all of this the fan
has not turned on at all.

I've had it in the shop repeatedly. they have bled the system, and replaced
the thermostat and fan switch. but within 200 miles of each visit to the shop,
the problem reoccurred. I assume that I am getting air into the system somehow
and i've told the mechanics as much, but since i have very little useful
knowledge
about vanagons my guess ends there. can anyone offer some advice? I need to
get this van back to Arizona in a couple weeks and I'd rather not have the
temp light flashing at me for 2000 miles.

I'm off the list now, so please p-mail me.

Thanks a lot and thanks in advance.
Happy holidays!

Wilson

85 GL
Mesa AZ