Gregg, I would think simply that there is no thermostat, or that it is stuck open.  I don't know any way to be sure without pulling the housing, but I can't imagine anything else that would keep the thing from warming up.  I guess there are some sensor situations that would make it think it was warm, but then the gauge should think so, too.  Thermostat.  mcneely

---- Gregg Carlen <gregg.carlen@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Hey list,
>
> I finally got my new (to me) van earlier this week. Picked up a 90 Westy to
> replace my 85 Westy that my wife and I sold a few years back. Have to say
> I've missed having a Vanagon and glad to be back in one.
>
> So, as no suprise, I have a laundry list of repairs and maintenance to take
> care of (the 4 different car tires is another story...), but the one that
> has me a little stumped is that the engine runs cold. By cold I mean the
> needle barely comes off the bottom of the scale, if at all.
>
> I'm in Northern Virginia, so its just below freezing most of the time
> lately. The symptoms I've got are the temp warning light flashes when the
> van first starts and stays flashing for several minutes, then goes out. The
> needle never makes it off the bottom of the scale, unless I've driven for
> about 20-30 minutes and then stop and idle for a while. Then it will rise
> just off the bottom of the scale, but never get up to running temp.
>
> Took a 3 hour round trip up to visit Dave O. in Maryland the yesterday and
> same thing. The van never got up to temp. Never got anything but warm air
> out of the front heater. The rear heater was a 'above-warm' but never hot.
>
> Since I've seen SOME movement on the scale, I'm thinking the temp
> guage/sensor is okay. The PO said he never had any problems with it. Now,
> since this was a Miami van all its life, I'm suspecting the PO pulled the
> thermostat.
>
> Any thoughts about what might be causing the low temp I'm seeing? Any way to
> check for a thermostat without pulling coolant hoses (and making a mess)?
>
> Thanks,
> Gregg
> 90 Westy (finally!)

--
David McNeely