In a message dated 16/12/2005 6:43:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

My heat  is really poor in my 1986 2.1L syncro. I'd like to bleed the
coolant can  anyone point me to a good description of how to?

Chris, first off, I don't think you need to bleed  your coolant system.  If
the van has been running fine and not overheating  and you have not recently
flushed and refilled your coolant system, then the  coolant system is bleed of
all air already.  The 2.1 coolant system has a  self bleeding design.  That's
the purpose of that tube running around the  perimeter of the top of the engine
compartment that has all those hoses  connected to it.  If you have poor
heating then there are other  problems.  Possibly the front heater core is blocked
from corrosion or the  fins are blocked from dirt & debrtis.  I had one I
took apart last week  for overhaul and the fins were completley, and I mean
completley, plugged up  with dirt, dust bunnies, mouse droppings, fur, you name it
it was in there  !  Next problem the heater vent flaps are not working
properly or their  seals have deteriorated.  Next problem could be your thermosate is
not  operating properly.  Next problem could be your heater coolant valve is
not  opening all the way. Maybe more that I can't think of so early in the
morning.
    Now, if you still want to bleed your coolant system  quickly and
efficiently here is how it is done and works perfectly every  time.  Start the engine
from cold, open the bleeder valve on the top of the  thermostat housing, open
the main coolant tank and while the engine is warming  up add coolant until
the tank is full, let the engine warm up a few  minutes, have another person
hold or block the throttle valve with a  screwdriver so that the RPMs stay around
3000, go to the front rad where  you already have removed the upper grill and
have a 13 mm open end spanner  ready, open the bleed bolt on the RH top of
the rad, when only fluid is coming  out and no air bubbles, close the bolt, fill
the main coolant tank, replace the  cap, reduce the idle, close the bleed
valve on top of the thermostat housing and  viola your done.  Make sure the
overflow tank is full to the MAX  mark.  After a couple of heating & cooling cycles
the system may take  on a bit more coolant and expunge any remaining air
through its designed air  bleeding system so check the overflow tank frequently
and refill as needed.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
_Frank Condelli  & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 08 ~ 11,  2006