Ken, even if your post is VERY intersting and constructive, the lady is
stuck deep south in Mexico, but still, i agree, a pressure test is ONE
good way to pinpoint cooling problem. I have 2 in the shop, one is a
genuine VW tools, the other one is new with a universal adapter (i will
post picture... one day), i also have infrared gun'S, but i like my hand
better. I'm found of finding simple ways/tool to fix problem, on the
road, it's always handy!
http://www.benplace.com/pressure_test.htm
http://www.benplace.com/front_radiator.htm

I have a new section coming about troubble shoothing fuel pressure
probleme without tools.... one day, if i can finish that
?*?%(*"%?/!?!/"?%*&&(*) tornado red van, i'm NEVER, NEVER changing color
in my life again.....

Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...Sanding...
I'm finish now with sanding, it's cleaning time, priming time
tomorrow.... it will be RED this weekend.

Ben

Kenneth Wilford wrote:

>Ben,
>
>Sorry I got into this discussion late but I didn't see it until this
>morning.
>
>Tools:
>
>A great tool that I love to use whenever I work on the Vanagon cooling
>system is a coolant system pressure tester.  I bought mine at Sears and had
>to modify it a little to get it to work on the Vanagon even though it said
>it would work on VWs and had an adapter for that purpose.  Whenever I am
>doing anything related to the cooling system (head gasket replacement, hose
>replacement, someone comes in complaining about a leak, etc.) I use this
>tool to check the system to see if it will hold pressure.  The Bentley talks
>about using such a tool and it is worth it's weight in gold to me.  I
>pressurize the system to around 15 psi and then let it sit.  Usually it
>doesn't take long.  The last customer that was in here had over 8 leaks!  I
>kept fixing them and new ones kept popping up.  His cap wasn't holding any
>pressure either and this was making it not leak like a seive (which is what
>is was doing when I pressurized the system) but it also lowers your boiling
>point in the system and can cause you to have a vapor lock because your
>coolant is vaporizing at too low of a temperature.
>
>So check that the system holds pressure, repair any leaks, definitely check
>the pressure cap on the expansion tank because all of the black ones I get
>in here are bad (and many of the blue ones too).
>
>The other tool that is a must is the infrared heat gun.  You can point it at
>any hose and see what the temperature is in real time in both F and C.
>Again this is something you can buy at Sears or a much cheaper version at
>Harbor Freight.  My Sears one is still going strong after several years.
>Again the Bentley gives you a proceedure for checking temps with a primitive
>looking thermometer.
>
>Problems I've seen:
>
>I have had the pressure cap cause one couples van to overheat at highway
>speeds on them.  It was allowing the coolant to vaporize and then the system
>would go into vapor lock (no flow).  New cap and the coolant system was good
>to go.
>
>Had another one with the bad radiator.  Seems like if they are marginal they
>do worse after the van is warmed up and then brought back to idle.  I think
>at the higher rpm the water pump is circulating more coolant through the
>crappy radiator and it is working enough to keep things cool.  But when you
>come back to idle the temperature keeps creeping up because now you have the
>pump turning at a lower speed, and the radiator is like someone with clogged
>arteries.  On the 2.1l engine there is a hose that goes from the coolant
>distributor over the top of the transimssion bellhousing and then to the
>thermostat housing.  This acts as a bypass of the radiator during warm up to
>help the engine to heat up faster.  When the radiator is clogged this hose
>continues to bypass the radiator after the thermostat opens and the engine
>gets hotter and hotter because the coolant isn't even going up there.
>Eventually the radiator will get warm by convection but by then the engine
>is super hot.
>
>I hope this gives you some ideas to work with.  I hope your lady can get
>back on the road again.
>
>
>
>
>Thanks,
>Ken Wilford
>John 3:16
>http://www.vanagain.com
>http://www.strictlyvwauctions.com
>http://www.eurovan.org
>http://www.vwcabrio.org
>Phone: (856)-327-4936
>Fax: (856)-327-2242
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>Ben
>Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 11:56 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Need input on radiator problem
>
>
>Words from the 2 mechanic down there: We are familiar with overheating
>problems, it's always hot here!!!
>
>See my last post on fitting  rad there
>
>It's a 20 years old VW, you NEED to think OUTISDE the box!
>
>It's a long saga, sorry for those who have to read that, but in a way, i
>think it's interesting, this can happen to one of us!
>
>Ben
>
>Jake de Villiers wrote:
>
>
>
>>Ben, if she just needs to get going, she could wire a replacement rad
>>to the front bumper and bypass the original.
>>
>>It wouldn't be particularly elegant, and the fan would take some
>>creativity, but it would sure cool the engine on the way to a place
>>with a proper rad.
>>
>>Just thinking outside (literally!) the box.
>>
>>Jake
>>
>>On 2/7/07, Benny boy <huotb@videotron.ca <mailto:huotb@videotron.ca>>
>>wrote:
>>
>>    First, thanks to everyone! i have red every post, here on on
>>p-mail.
>>
>>    Why do i care, because i do! this is not Ben the mechanic but
>>    simple the
>>    westy guy! I call that the Westy spirit. You all know that i
>>    perfectly know
>>    the cooling system, i have made that section of the van one of my
>>    specialty.
>>    so i'm here sitting in the cold and i can do nothing!
>>    She is a GREAT lady, at 62yo, i can only say BRAVO! On the phone,
>>    i could
>>    fell her fear for the worse... as she is stuck in a very small
>>    village far
>>    enough from any big town. She is not alone, she is travelling with
>>    a friend,
>>    a big guy! And yes, you guys don't know me, i'm crasy enough to
>>    take the
>>    plane and go there.... I may sound a bit rough here (on the list)
>>    sometime
>>    but i have a very big heart, to big.
>>
>>
>>    I now agree on a few things, the pump went bad, i yes, that
>>    happen, she is
>>    gonna check today if it's leaking from the hole (all bad-new pump
>>    i have
>>    seen were leaking), BUT, a pump going bad quick can also happen
>>    when the
>>    Alternator is "shaking" (unbalance, broken bracket...), but, she
>>    is running
>>    on a modified braket that i made for her!
>>
>>    the rad is bad (my choice for now)
>>
>>    Loose head due to stud failure.
>>
>>    I made her a list of "how to" check everything, they are working
>>    on it as i
>>    write.
>>
>>    I will keep you up to date... i have to think of a way of fixing
>>    that rad!
>>
>>    Ben
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>Jake
>>1984 Vanagon GL
>>1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>>www.crescentbeachguitar.com <http://www.crescentbeachguitar.com>
>>
>>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>-
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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