Mine was like that too, fairly normal, but with the fast climb at
stoplights, etc., I flushed and refilled the cooling system, replaced the
thermostat, and replaced the switch for the fan up front with one that comes
on at a slightly lower temperature (Peter at VolksCafe sells these, probably
others do as well).  All is well now--temp doesn't climb so quickly, and
stays in a normal range.  For me, normal is just covering the top third of
the LED with the needle.
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Tracy Bonin <icculus22420@YAHOO.COM>
> Reply-To: Tracy Bonin <icculus22420@YAHOO.COM>
> Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 06:20:17 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Tempurature
>
> Hi everyone, well I was just curious as to what temp Vanagon's usually run at
> in the summer. This is my 1st summer with mine, and I have been noticing a few
> things, and I was just wondering if the are normal......
>
> 1st the temp used to run pretty much exactly in the middle of the light dot
> and the bottom, sometimes even below the middle......latley though it's been
> running at about the dot or a little higher......is this normal?
>
> 2nd I've noticed that sitting and not moving even a a light or in the fast
> food drive thru makes the temp go up pretty quick, and not go down all tooo
> quickly......is this normal? (if I ever got in a major traffic jam on the
> highway, I would definitly have to turn offf the engine......)
>
> let me know.................
>
> thanx,
>
> Tracy
>
>
>
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