On 4/17/06, monte merrick <montemerrick@speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
> okay, so my bus - a 1.9 wbx runs really cool at highway speed and
> continuous slower speed but in stop and go starts to get warm - when it
> gets above half way (at 12 o'clock) i turn the heater fan on and then
> it cools back down  - i would expect it to run about 12 o'clock
> ordinarily but  the rise from so low to there makes me think its headed
> for the hot zone - i sure don't want it to overheat - i'm wonderiong if
> the thermostat is really low to help compensoate for a weak pump - i
> bought the van a few months ago and have been addressing other issues
> but this one is next - thats my guess,

If you're running below the mid point on the gauge at road speed, the
thermostat might be stuck open or partially open, or replaced with a lower
temp unit. Normal "ideal" running temperature on the road seems to be
roughly the mid point of the temp gauge. Going up above the mid point is
normal behavior when you're stopped and idling. With no air flow through the
radiator, there's nothing to cool the water. You don't need to turn on the
heater, as this is also normal. At some point up around the 3/5 to 3/4 point
on the gauge the radiator fan should come on and bring the temperature down
to close to the mid point again. A properly functioning wasserboxer cooling
system sitting at idle should cycle up and down. You should probably let it
cycle and make sure the fan thermoswitch is working. This all assumes, of
course, that the gauge is reading properly. If the gauge or wiring have
issues, the meaning of it all becomes quite inscrutable.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"