Do you have the 5 or 6 cyl engine?

Jerry

"nkaps" <nkap-@...> wrote:
original article:

"jerry carter" <sana-@...> wrote:
original article:

All,

I had just started into the 60,000 mile maintenance service and have
come across something you all should check out.

Before flushing the coolant, I decided to checkout the "Thermostat
control for shutters" [I'll call it the device]. Its mounted

between

the electric fans. Its a simple device, air passes through the
radiator then hits the radiator cowl. The electric fans are mounted

to

the cowling. There is a small hole, about .6" x 1", that allows air

to

pass through, exposing the device to warm air. Curious about how it
operated, I took the hair dryer out and ran it for a while directing
the hot air on the device. Nothing happened. After several more
minutes, it finally moved, but not enough to open the shutters.

When closed, the shutters seal off the opening behind the electric
fans. If they stay closed, the electric fans are next to useless in
drawing air through the radiator! In fact, when you're driving,

very

little air will pass through the radiator because there is no where

for

the air to go.

I next took the 2 screws out holding the device to the cowling and
removed it. I could easily open each shutter - they stay open

without

the device inplace to close them. Curious, I took the van out for a
quick spin. The engine warmed up like before, but it didn't get up
close to the 230 mark. The temp was reading about 2 notches below
where it had always ran, or about 34 degrees cooler! When I bought
the van last year, it was reading near the 230 mark. I always

thought

the gauge was off and never paid attention to the high temp

reading.

I have since ordered a new device, VWN701121183A, for $53.24 - it

came

in a few days ago. I ran a bench test with it using the hair

dryer.

Within 2 minutes on low speed holding the dryer about 6" away, it
quickly rotated the arms that would have opened the shutters. This
confirms the old part was bad.

I waited to post this until I confirmed the old part was bad. I
strongly suggest ALL 5 cyl EV owners checkout the operation of this
device (you VR6 engine owners don't have this device). All you have

to

do is open the hood after driving the van (it has to be fully warmed
up)and feel the back of the electric fan/shutters (make sure the

engine

is off, and don't pole your fingers into the shutter openings, the
electric fans can come on and ruin your day). You will know if the
shutters are open. If you want to see the device open the shutters,
just use a hair dryer.

You should check this because the coolant temp affects several

things:

1. Engine operating temp - on a very hot day you probably have very
little cooling margin. This could be very serious if you tow

something.

2. The automatic transmission (AT) fluid is "cooled" by the engine
coolant via the transmission cooler. I'm sure the AT/fluid would

last

longer if it operated at the right temp.
3. The engine oil is also cooled by the engine coolant via the oil
cooler. I'm sure the engine/oil would last longer if it didn't

operate

this hot.
4. There could be other side affects (AC compressor running hotter,
fuel lines being exposed to higher under hood temps?)

All of you who check the operation of there device, can you post if

it

works or not. I will try to post a piture of the device tomorrow.

Jerry

I just checked mine, and no shutters. Must have something to do with
California weather....

In a message dated 11/22/99 6:53:47 PM, erolz@... writes:

<<I would like to install some gauges in my 93GL, like oil temperature, water
temp, and maybe a vacuum gauge. I have noticed that some of you have
installed
aftermarket gauges. My question is, where did you place them? I have looked
all
around the dash and have not found a place that would be suitable for a gauge
cluster. Where did you install them?
Also, has anyone added a water temp gauge? I thought that might be easier
and more accurate than repairing the troublesome VW gauge. If anyone has done
that, how and where did you tap into the cooling system?
Thanks
Eckhard>>

Several aftermarket companies make nice gauge packages that mount to the
A-pillar. Many are listed in European Car Magazine. If you wish, I could
give you the names of some of the companies.

Todd

I can't get the website to work for my vote. It says "no such vote available"

Steve,

Thanks for the info on the fuel lines. I appreciate it since the VW guy
doesn't seem to have a clue.

Todd Vess

HI -- I've just subscribed to ev_update after being directed here from the
VW/watercooled newsgroup, where I posted the following without any success.
I've tried searching the old messages for anyone else reporting this problem,
but haven't found anything relevant. I hope someone here can help.

I have a '95 ev camper which is experiencing inability to fill the upper half
of its fuel (gasoline) tank. For the first couple of years I could routinely
get about 18 gallons into the tank (which has a nominal 21.5 gal capacity),
and the gauge would read "full". For the past year or so I rarely am able to
get more than 12 or 13 gallons in before the pump clicks off, and the gauge
usually reads between 5/8ths and 1/2. Range is accordingly reduced, and
I've run out twice, once after going only 220 miles after a particularly
ineffective fueling. I live in Oregon where we are not allowed to pump our
own gas, so I only get to try adding more gas after the pump clicks off on
interstate trips, but usually only another half-gallon or so will go in.

We've had the gas tank out, and checked the venting lines and the charcoal
canister; everything seems OK except the valve inside the top of the tank
that seems to be designed to prevent liquid passing up the venting line (in
the case of a roll-over?) seems to let air through very slowly. I'm told
this valve isn't replaceable except by purchase of a new tank -- can this be
true? Is it the problem, and if not what is? Most significantly, what is
the best cure?

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom in Forest Grove, OR

In a message dated 11/22/99 6:15:57 PM, LTVess@... wrote:

<<Gang,

Our first freezing day and guess what, gas lines spraying. . . I called the
local dealership and they have no idea what fuel lines I am talking about. I
am going to take a digital photo of the lines and send it to them, but in the
meantime does anyone have an exact list of what parts need to be replaced
and/or their part numbers. I'm afraid I know more about EVs than the service
dept. does!

TIA
Todd Vess>>

I posted the parts diagram to my web site a while back.

<A href=">EVFUELLINES.gif</A>

This is the same diagram that the VW parts guy will have.

There are 3 plastic lines, no. 1 - 3, and come with the rubber connectors
included, or you can order the rubber hoses separate.

Steve Lashley
'66 Westy
'74 Campmobile
'93 EV MV
<A href="></A>
314-614-0750
Importing German Side Tents, Carver Propane Heaters and other Accessories for
Bus, Vanagon and EuroVan

"jerry carter" <sana-@...> wrote:
original article:

All,

I had just started into the 60,000 mile maintenance service and have
come across something you all should check out.

Before flushing the coolant, I decided to checkout the "Thermostat
control for shutters" [I'll call it the device]. Its mounted between
the electric fans. Its a simple device, air passes through the
radiator then hits the radiator cowl. The electric fans are mounted

to

the cowling. There is a small hole, about .6" x 1", that allows air

to

pass through, exposing the device to warm air. Curious about how it
operated, I took the hair dryer out and ran it for a while directing
the hot air on the device. Nothing happened. After several more
minutes, it finally moved, but not enough to open the shutters.

When closed, the shutters seal off the opening behind the electric
fans. If they stay closed, the electric fans are next to useless in
drawing air through the radiator! In fact, when you're driving, very
little air will pass through the radiator because there is no where

for

the air to go.

I next took the 2 screws out holding the device to the cowling and
removed it. I could easily open each shutter - they stay open without
the device inplace to close them. Curious, I took the van out for a
quick spin. The engine warmed up like before, but it didn't get up
close to the 230 mark. The temp was reading about 2 notches below
where it had always ran, or about 34 degrees cooler! When I bought
the van last year, it was reading near the 230 mark. I always thought
the gauge was off and never paid attention to the high temp reading.

I have since ordered a new device, VWN701121183A, for $53.24 - it came
in a few days ago. I ran a bench test with it using the hair dryer.
Within 2 minutes on low speed holding the dryer about 6" away, it
quickly rotated the arms that would have opened the shutters. This
confirms the old part was bad.

I waited to post this until I confirmed the old part was bad. I
strongly suggest ALL 5 cyl EV owners checkout the operation of this
device (you VR6 engine owners don't have this device). All you have

to

do is open the hood after driving the van (it has to be fully warmed
up)and feel the back of the electric fan/shutters (make sure the

engine

is off, and don't pole your fingers into the shutter openings, the
electric fans can come on and ruin your day). You will know if the
shutters are open. If you want to see the device open the shutters,
just use a hair dryer.

You should check this because the coolant temp affects several things:
1. Engine operating temp - on a very hot day you probably have very
little cooling margin. This could be very serious if you tow

something.

2. The automatic transmission (AT) fluid is "cooled" by the engine
coolant via the transmission cooler. I'm sure the AT/fluid would last
longer if it operated at the right temp.
3. The engine oil is also cooled by the engine coolant via the oil
cooler. I'm sure the engine/oil would last longer if it didn't

operate

this hot.
4. There could be other side affects (AC compressor running hotter,
fuel lines being exposed to higher under hood temps?)

All of you who check the operation of there device, can you post if it
works or not. I will try to post a piture of the device tomorrow.

Jerry

I just checked mine, and no shutters. Must have something to do with
California weather....

Since I have been on this list I must have seen about 100 unique people ask
the same few questions.....tire replacement, tire pressure etc..

I plan on creating a FAQ, which egroups will host. So, I welcome ideas to
include in this FAQ. I will insert the link to the FAQ in the email that
new members get so hopefully the same threads won't continuously reappear.

Please email, to the list, info you feel is important to include in the FAQ
and I'll start putting it together.

Alex

The Polls are a feature of egroups and are tracked on their server. I do
not manually enter anyone's info.

Their was an initial poll I did a few months back which I posted the results
of. Obviously many of you didn't know about it.

I reposted it but got burned by the folks who wanted more choices and posted
one poll with an error in it.

There should be 2 final active polls, one for year, and one for model type.

for those that did not get the emails or are having problems with the
link(s), go to the egroups web site, sign into the ev_update list, and then
go to the POLLS tab and answer away.

Finally, anyone on this list can create a poll by going to the POLL section,
so if anyone else has some burning questions.....

Alex

After that initial invalid link poll (w/o the weekender) BOTH of the
latter polls worked fine -

Alex can you give us links one last time for both ( there were only the
two - right?) polls - I want to see how the resulyts are coming in :-)

-Bill

RBIEGEL@... wrote:

The first What year is your EV poll was cancelled and replaced by another
one that immediately followed it. If you didn't get the emails, you can go
to the egroups web site, log into the ev_update list, go to the polls
section, and then answer the polls that way.

Alex

How do I vote in my '99 Rialta? It's a BIG Eurovan camper :-)

Ken Korn
Austin, TX

Gang,

Our first freezing day and guess what, gas lines spraying. . . I called the
local dealership and they have no idea what fuel lines I am talking about. I
am going to take a digital photo of the lines and send it to them, but in the
meantime does anyone have an exact list of what parts need to be replaced
and/or their part numbers. I'm afraid I know more about EVs than the service
dept. does!

TIA
Todd Vess
Windsor, Colo.

I installed the CD player on a bracket I made that hangs under the passanger
seat. This way there is still some space under it, it won't get kicked and
hopefuly attract less dirt. The bracket is made of two strips of wood screwed
into 4 holes in the seat base.
Justin

Don't forget that you can read all the old postings on the web site.

Alex

According to the info posted on the web site, you have the

following

mail addresses to work with:

Thanks All,

I'm back on board and glad to be here. Hope I didn't miss too much in
my absence.

Russ Bishop
Ventura, CA
99 EVC
87 Westy

开云体育

The Poll only works if you go to the ev_update web site link in the email.
I am not personally tallying up people's responses.

Sorry for all the confusion.

Alex

Alex,
Although I think the idea is great, I've tried twice to make my vote without
any success. The polling system needs a bit more debug.
Ron

In a message dated 11/22/99 12:00:03 AM, azaborenko@... writes:

<< >>

Tried the site and got the message
"No such vote available: 943242605334".

Am I missing something?
Ron