Re: Overheating Woes

[NJScirGTX@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-08-06 04:39:18 EDT, brads@mindspring.com (Brad
Sheridan) writes:

<< To:	scirocco-l@privatei.com
 
 > 
 > My '84 is running waaaayyy too hot today and i can't figure out why? my
fan
 > is kicking in (albeit a little late, but none the less kicking in...) and
 > my water level is up to where it should be. would this be a stuck
 > thermostat or the fan sensor telling it to kick in too late or what? any
 > ideas would be greatly appreciated.

As posted in the oil temp running hot earlier this week. Put a thermometer
into the coolant resivior and run the car see if the top and bottom hoses are
getting warm and also see if the radiator is getting warm on both sides. The
fan should come on around 195 degs F. Try changing the fan switch and
thermostat if its running too hot and you have no coolant leaks. Put in an 87
deg c therm and a 85deg/ 95 deg C fan switch. Also put in a 60/40 mix of
coolant. Try propylene glycol (Sierra) and water wetter wouldn't hurt.
  
   If the fan is kicking in, that means the thermoswitch is working. AFAIK,
 when they fail, they fail completely, they don't just turn on late..

WRONG, they also can come on late when getting old

 It also means that the thermostat is either stuck open, or working to some
degree if
 the hot water is getting to the radiator and thermoswitch.

POSSIBLE
 
   You could always jumper the fan switch so that it stays on to see if this
 helps. The temp of the hoses to/from the radiator will give you an idea
 about whether or not the thermostat is working.
   Maybe your water pump isn't working up to par?

Check for a leak at the drip hole on the bottom of the pump

 Or maybe your system is  developing too little/much pressure? I've had a
pressure cap go bad, causing overheating due to excessive pressure on the
cooling system. It would overheat  after a few miles of driving, but the fan
appeared to be working, the thermostat appeared to be working, and the system
had been recently flushed and filled with VW antifreeze and distilled water.
 
  >>

Sorry if I've hurt any ones feelings but facts are facts

Steve Toughill (VW Tech)
NJScirGTX
84 Scirocco GTX
88 Fox

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