Mine is doing that- I'm doing transmission repairs, among other things and I
found that it was just getting hotter and hotter and the fan wasn't coming
on. Checked the radiator fan switches, etc... finally climbed under and felt
the big coolant lines just forward of the engine- no heat at all, nothing.
Based on that, I'm betting on the thermostat to begin with. Did you check
for heat in the lines forward of the engine?

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: <JordanVw@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 8:52 PM
Subject: running hot....any ideas?

> 85 vanagon was running hot...  so i replaced the radiator...  didnt solve
> anything..  needle still is way over the red dot...   any ideas?   and
> yes, the
> heads are fine.. no leakage..coolant full..
>
> what else could cause the needle to be way over the red dot?
>
> thanks..
> chris