Lauren,

Regarding the temp light flashing/needle pegging, mine did this off and on on a trip from Maine to New York (about 300 miles each way) a couple of years ago. Lost the water pump before we got home. Hasn't done it since we replaced the pump.

John Flaherty
'84 GL "Insufficient Funds"
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: - Lauren Pelzer 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 7:44 PM
  Subject: Oil fill tube, overheating, and stalling

  Hi, everyone - 
  Once again, I could use some advice.  I have a plain old '85 Vanagon.   

  Here is some background:  On Thursday, after work, I started it up and it did 
  not want to idle - stalling unless I kept my foot on the gas.  I drove around 
  in circles in the parking lot for a little while, and when it warmed up, it 
  ran and idled ok for the rest of the trip home, but it has been doing this 
  every time I've started it since then.  This morning, I had an oxygen sensor 
  installed - the last thing I needed to pass emmisions inspection - and I also 
  had them change the fuel filter.   

  On the way home from picking up the van, the temp. light turned red and the 
  temp needle pegged all the way to the right.  It was that way for about a 
  mile, then everything went back to normal.  I got home, topped off the 
  coolant, and noticed the oil filler tube and cap were missing.  The van still 
  does not want to idle when I first start it up, and it is still doing the 
  sporadic overheating thing. 

  Ok, so here are my questions: 
        Can any of these problems be related to each other? 
        I have ordered a new fill tube and cap, but in the meantime, should I 
  put something over the hole?  What? 
        Should I suspect the thermostat with this sporadic overheating 
  problem?   
        Is it normal for the oil filler tube to simply fall off? 

  Thanks in advance for your help! 
  -Lauren 

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