I haven't tried it yet, but a tip passed along to me from a VW mechanic
was that the plastic tube seems to pull away from the metal sleeve, or
vice versa.  The fix, I was told, is to remove the tube, tap or pound
the sleeve back into place and simply pop rivet the two together.

Bob Trousdale
'90 Westy

>>On a '90 the plastic tubes should have a metal insert in each end,
where the hoses are clamped. The insert keeps the plastic from
deforming. They can rust or >>otherwise move out of position. Jerry<<
----- Original Message -----
From: "Grungy" <grungy@MINDLESS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 4:07 PM
Subject: coolant leak question...

> My '90 GL has a coolant leak up front, where the radiator hoses meet
> the long coolant tubes. After replacing both hoses there was still a
> leak. One of the long coolant tubes had no plastic end on it - and it
> appeared to be the leaky one, so the tube was replaced. After the
> replacement, the other tube/hose interface is leaking - drip, drip,
> drip. *sigh* Took it apart and found some plastic "whiskers"
> protruding from the back side of the fat part of the plastic end on
> the tube. These were cut off. Checked the hose with my finger to see
> if there was any gross evidence of cuts - didn't feel any. Put it all
> back together again. Drip, drip, drip. *big sigh*
>
> The plastic tube appears to be solid, but the pair keep leaking. Can
> over-tightening of the hose clamp make it leak more? I'm using
> screw-type hose clamps and three out of the four don't leak.