TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:22 am

Hi everyone,

I looked in many topics and did not found any problem to be similar to mine. A have a 86 westy 2.1L original engine with standard tranny.

The engine temperature is correct and steady on highway. When I pull off of highway and goes at idle the rpm is around 1000, so it's ok.

When I'm driving in town, the engine temperature increase a little and the radiator fan goes on. Which I think is normal since there is less air cooling. When I stop at a red light the rpm is higher, about 2000. The maximum rpm I had at idle was 3000 during a big trafic jam.

It's always happening when engine is hot and radiator fan is on. I kicked the pedal, and the rpm just increases an stay there.

Is it normal since the engine is hotter, there is a need to increase the coolant flow at water pump and electrical power for the fan????

I'm not sure this is normal. The previous owner changes the temperature sender and I'm sure he did not put a Bosch.

Thanks

P.A.
Bizon 86

Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:45 am

Same exact thing was happening to my 86 Westy this past summer - Unfortunately, I never figured it out. It got to the point where it happened all the time once it was warmed up. No, it is not normal. I was scared it would start overheating around town. Very curious to see what the wise Vanagon gurus of The Samba might think...

I thought the idle air valve might be getting stuck on mine so I cleaned it out. When that didn't help, I bought a clean-looking used one - still didn't help.

My Westy is garaged for the winter here so I dropped the project for now. I'm thinking it could be the idle control relay acting up, so I'm looking for a cheap used replacement (not easy to find). I have a new temperature sensor I never installed - when I last checked, the one on the Westy was showing the correct resistance cold and hot. Probably a good idea to replace it anyway, though...

Good luck, and we'll see what we hear!