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I recently purchased one and it seems to over heat (only occasionally). when it does the outer radiator stays cool, the back one is hot. The fan only comes on after the light blinks (behind temp gauge). The hose that goes into the back radiator on the passenger side is hot, but the water in the coolant tank doesn't circulate (stays cool). It runs great and has no leaks. ( the ground is always dry around it). Being that I am fixing it on a shoestring budget, I was looking for some direction.
Is the thermostat in the back attached to the water pump,or some where else?
Does the outer radiator never warming means it needs to be replaced, or just flushed out?
Why isn't the water in the expansion tank water warming even when the front radiator hot?
If you do not answer this email I understand, I am asking for free advice. I hope you look at is as guidance.
I thank you in advance for reading this and hopefully responding,
Thanks Pat  

while you are awaiting an answer.. i will have to study the cooling system.. its been a LONG time since i worked on one of these..

did you bleed the cooling system??? this usually requires a two post live and insane angles you tilt the car to purge the air from the system..

Do you have a really steep hill in your area that might help you bleed the cooling system..

do you have any info on where the bleeder screws are?? or how to properly bleed the cooling system...

while waiting for help...
let me take you back to the service station i worked at a long time ago.. an actual full service gas station.. where attendants checked your oil, washed your windshield.., checked the air in your tires..  and pumped the gas while you sat inside your car..   and this was in los angeles.

one of the gas pump attendants came over and ask for a screw driver..  being curious..  i ask why..  to take the grill out of that VW bus to check the oil and the radiator..   i said its all behind the rear license plate..   the new owner was there trying to see through the grill...  i took a screw driver with me and walked out to the van.. walked around the back and showed them the hidden stuff behind the rear plate..

this is also the one of the stations who tried to charge a customer for 25 gallons of gas for their 66 VW bug..  i was there..  seems when the attendant turned on the pump..  it did not clear.. he just set the nozzle and checked everything..  taking his sweet time...  when the car owner refused.. and got the boss involved.. i became involved also.. the gas gauge on the bug still showed 1/4 of a tank..  while the yelling continued..  the attendant from the next lane came back from his break...  said.. thats strange..  thats the exact amount i put in a motor home before my break.. here is the receipt..
the handle going up not clearing the previous sale and the attendant not noticing the error  or the lack of fuel flowing from the nozzle..??? what a day...

a similar thing happened to some san diego area bug owner as i recall...  

reading... lots of it...

http://www.vanagonparts.com/tech_bulletins.html



the main page...

http://www.vanagonparts.com/tech_index.html


refilling the cooling system..

http://www.vanagonparts.com/cooling_refill.html

if the info on these pages does not help...

post.... i will dig deeper...  

1.
Set heater controls to maximum heating position.
2.
Open control valve for auxiliary heater under rear seat.
3.
Remove radiator grille.
4.
Raise vehicle approx. 15 3/4" (40cm) at front under the cross-member with floor jack and wooden support.
5.
Open bleeder valve on radiator.
6.
Open bleeder valve in engine compartment.
7.
Fill cooling system via expansion tank until tank is filled to the brim and remains full.
8.
Run engine @2000 rpm, top up tank until coolant flows at radiator breather valve with NO air bubbles.
9.
Add coolant until tank is full and close tank with cap.
10.
Turn off ignition & restart engine after about 20 seconds.
11.
At about 2000 rpm oen cap of expansion tank.
12.
Close radiator bleeder valve when coolant flows out.
13.
Add coolant until tank is full and close tank with cap.
14.
Close bleeder valve in engine compartment.
15.
Turn off engine.
16.
Check coolant level in expansion tank and top up.
17.
Close expansion tank with cap.

 

http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/message.jspa?messageID=133930

one thing... if you notice that in quality full gasket sets for these water cooled motors...

there are squeeze tubes of a product called hylomar included..   without it being used on the head gaskets and seals as directed...


if you have to tear down...  be sure to order up some hylomar up front...