They didn't come from the factory with an auxiliary water pump, so they
don't need one now.  Fix the problem.  Air in the system?  Worn out pump or
slipping belt?  Radiator fan switch not working?  Low coolant level?  Bleed
the system and top up the coolant.  Test the radiator fan by jumping the
terminals on the connector to the switch to see if it runs, and go from
there.
TEMiller

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Cardo" <rrecardo@WEBTV.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 12:43 PM
Subject: Coolant Movement Problems

> I have a friend who has a 85 GL, and is having heating up problems in
> slow / in town traffic.
>
> I told him first to check the thermostat and put the palm of his hand
> over the front of the radiator to see if it has any cold spots.
>
> I think he's having plugged radiator syndrome.
>
> At highway speed it cools fine.
>
> Now here's the punch line.
>
> His mechanic told him that Vanagon's have an inherant cooling fluid
> movement problem, and he is going to add an electric auxillary water
> pump  in line         ( somewhere ) in the coolant tubes to move the H2O
> more efficiantly to the radiator.
>
> And for the paultry sum of 500 big one's.
>
> I told him to get in the Van, turn the key, and get it the heck outa
> there.
>
> I now there is a bunch of stuff I haven't seen or heard of in this life.
> But this seems really too wild even for me.
>
> Anybody heard / seen of anything so crazy?
>
> RC
>