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Subject:Re: Temp gauge problems too
From:John Bange
Date:Wed, 28 Sep 2005 15:14:59 -0700

On 9/28/05, Rus <rusb01@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I have the same problem with my 87 passenger van as
> chris does with his.........my temp gage wont budge
> either......have changed both sensors on the
> thermostate housing, thermostate and water pump.......
> i drive mine but with caution.......as i dont know if
> the water is circulating through the radiator to the
> engine or not........if both heaters get hot is this a
> sign that the water is flowing properly???
>

If your heaters are getting hot (esp. the front one) then your water pump is
definitely working. Heater cores operate separate from the radiator circuit
so this won't tell you if you have a stuck thermostat. Best way to check for
flow to the radiator is to get your hand on the radiator itself and see if
it gets hot. Radiator flow or not, though, your temperature gauge should
read something at least APPROACHING engine temperature. It's fed by the
black sensor on the thermostat housing which always sits in the coolant
circuit regardless of thermostat condition. Since you've already changed the
sensor, I'd check the wire run and temp gauge.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon
"Keine Bange, wir holen die Zange!"