I'm hoping it's the thermostat too :-)  --- i'll check for side play
in the water pump but I don't think that's the case.

Thanks,
Doug

On 8/24/05, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> Doug,
> 
> I'm leaning toward the t'stat, too.  However, did you check the water
> pump for side play?  A weak bearing may still spin freely, but with belt
> tension on it, it may cock to one side a bit and bind.  BTDT.
> 
> Karl Wolz
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> > Doug Alcock
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 8:57 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Conclusion to:"Trouble on the Road in PA"
> (longish)
> >
> > Rad is about 14 months old and I haven't been dumping anything in it.
> > I checked the belt for both condition and tension before I left ---
> > both were good. When I had the belt off I checked the water pump and
> > it spun freely.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Doug
> >
> > On 8/24/05, John Bange <jbange@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > The rad's only about 14 month's old --- I'd hate to think it's
> hosed
> > > > so soon. Is there any way of testing it?
> > > >
> > >
> > > Radiator ought to be fine, unless you've been dumping in stop-leak
> or
> > > something. Time to sit back and think about the possible points of
> > > failure. Cooling as all about water flow. If the water doesn't flow,
> > > it doesn't get cooled fast enough. Water pump is worth casting  a
> > > suspicious eye upon, since your belt broke. I don't know what
> > > condition the belt was in, but it seems like an awfully interesting
> > > coincidence. If the pump's dragging, not spinning fast enough due to
> a
> > > failing bearing, that would certainly reduce your water flow and
> could
> > > put enough strain on the belt to kill it. Your pump must be at least
> > > partly functional, though, as the addition of the heater  brought
> the
> > > temperature down. If the belt hadn't failed, my suspicion would fall
> > > first on the thermostat.  A bad thermostat will block flow through
> the
> > > radiator, but not the heater core (which is independent of the
> > > radiator circuit). I'm bettin' the fan switch and radiator are fine
> > > and the water just isn't getting up there. Might be worth trying a
> new
> > > thermostat first, as it's easier to do than change the water pump.
> > >
> 
>