Wouldn't you suspect some air in the system, particularly in the radiator? The radiator SHOULD be getting hot enough to kick the fan on. Wasn't someone else on the list having a similar problem recently? 

Ed in CT

> Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:27:04 -0300
> From: 86westy@GEOEXPLOITS.ORG
> Subject: Re: Overheating at idle
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> It's been a few days...I still can't figure out what's going wrong, so I've
> ordered a new water pump, hoping that that's the problem. I have no record
> of the water pump ever being replaced, so at 291,000kms (180,000 miles), a
> new one is not a bad idea anyhow  :)
> Belt's not slipping, but I put a new one on anyway. I also removed the
> thermostat, and it's opening fine in boiling water...
> Once my knuckles recover from the pump replacement, I'll report more...
> 
> Tom
> 
> On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 1:09 PM, gary hradek <hradek@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > Tom,
> >   Might it be something as simple as the belt slipping?
> > What was the nature of the leak and what did you top off with as coolant?
> >     gary
> >
> > From: "Tom Rowsell" <86westy@GEOEXPLOITS.ORG>
> > >> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > >> Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 11:37 PM
> > >> Subject: Overheating at idle
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>> My '86 recently began overheating but only at idle...drive all day on
> > the
> > >>> highway and it's fine, but stop and idle for a few minutes, and the
> > >>> temperature climbs. Rev the engine and the temp returns to normal. Even
> > >>> after a 15 minute drive: stop and idle, and it'll get hot.
> > >>> I recently had a leak, so it might be an air lock problem ? I'm
> > thinking
> > >>> the
> > >>> water pump or the thermostat. It's not the fan since the radiator never
> > >>> seems to get hot enough to kick that on. I guess tomorrow's job is pull
> > >>> the
> > >>> thermostat and check it? There are no unusual noises from the water
> > >>> pump...
> > >>> As usual, all advice and critiques appreciated  :)
> > >>>
> > >>> Thanks
> > >>> Tom
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

_________________________________________________________________
Get thousands of games on your PC, your mobile phone, and the web with Windows�.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/108588800/direct/01/