sam pacifico (samhp@EXECPC.COM) said on the date of 12/2/99 5:14 PM

>Today, less than twenty four hours later,  the van is back in the
>shop because it blew the temperature sensor and split the thermostat
>housing. I have nursed Triumph cars for twenty years and have followed
>the adage " if it ain't broke don't fix it". Should I do the same with
>my Vanagon?  BTW I love to drive this van and am planning to drive from
>near Chicago to Sarasota Florida at Christmas.  My confidence has been
>shaken!

     Sounds just like it had an air bubble in the cooling system.
Probably due to the fact that they did it backwards.  I'd talk to the
shop manager, and request that the mechanics do the procedure by the book
(you have a Bentley manual, don't you?) and bleed the system through the
radiator.

     This may have been an acceptable procedure, on pre-86 waterboxers,
but the 86-up 2.1L engines had their cooling system *specifically*
redesigned to bleed very well through the radiator.

     Welcome to the club of non-mechanic Vanagon owners who have to
supervise their mechanics.

     BTW, you could also query the list for a Vanagon savvy shop in your
area.

_________________________________________________________

Bob O'Shaughnessy,         Columbus, OH
vanagon@columbus.rr.com
85GL with basic Westy interior
74 Bus (Dad's)
72 Wife, 94 Rabbit, 95 Cat, 96 cat, 98 Kid
52 House