This is actually normal, when the engine gets to an elevated, but not overheated, condition. Overheated would be one of the things to make the light flash. Low coolant level in the header tank is the other. And, believe it or not, there are two speeds available to the cooling fan! The thermostatic switch in the radiator has two levels it can send the fan motor to - "jet engine" and "warp speed" - although both can be frightening if you haven't heard them before. In most normal operating of a Vanagon, the radiator works well enough that it does not need the fan to run to help cool off.

Rob Campbell <mantid@GMAIL.COM> wrote:  As pertains to water-cooled (1987) vanagon:

I've heard reference to the cooling stage where the "jet engine" fan comes
on (quite loudly). I did experience this last summer for the first time
while driving up a long steep stretch of highway in Southern California on a
90-degree day. The temp needle was a ways above its usual spot in the
middle, but the light never flashed and fortunately the drive was over
shortly after that occurance. I did pull over into the truck lane and was
driving about 35, the "jet engine" would come and go intermittantly.

I am curious how "normal" it is for this stage of cooling to occur. Is it a
warning of a problem, or just par for course for driving uphill too long?
Should the van be pulled over to cool down? Or is it ok to just let it go
like this, with the system doing its job? How hot is too hot? Obviously
slowing down as much as possible comes to mind, turning off AC and even
opening the heat up if its tolerable, but as summer returns to the south,
are there any other words of consideration?

FWIW I have no coolant leaks, van seems in perfect health, temp is almost
always stable (even at highway speeds and "normal" uphill drives). I am new
to living in such a warm area though and want to be careful this summer.

thanks for any input

rob
87 Westy
Long Beach, CA

Evan Mac Donald

1984 Wolfburg
1985 GL 7 Pass.
1991 Carat Weekender
1972 Chevy P/U
1993 Bonneville