Stuck in Baja, need help replacing thermostat 1.6 diesel Westy

[mg93108]

Hi
So it's over 100 degrees and my 1982 Vanagon Westfalia diesel with a 1.6 NA motor is running very hot going over the mountains. There's pretty much no way out without going over a series of hills...that already caused the van to overheat in the way here.

The good news is that I have another thermostat. The current one in there is approximately 195 degrees.
The new one that I have to replace it is approximately 180 degrees....mas o menos.

Additionally cell data here is weak.

Can someone offer some instructions?
Can I do this with a basic set of tools including a socket set etc?
Where the heck is the thermostat housing anyway?
Is there a YouTube video on this?

I've tried to search but often the search just times out.
I know you guys are great and I appreciate your help and support.

PS: when the van is running on the flat lands it's all good.
Also...previous owner said the same would happen to him.

[Zeitgeist 13]

It's pretty easy to replace. Here's a 1.5/6 diesel engine diagram showing where the t-stat resides.

_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[82westyrabbit]

The thermostat is on the bottom of the water pump it's only two bolts holding it in. A 10mm socket or wrench and a screw driver is all you need. You have made shore the fan is working first right? You have to be very careful with the two bolts as they break very easy. I would bleed the cooling system and ck the fan before I changed the thermostat. If those engines get hot they some times blow the head gasket and blow compression in to the cooling system. Then you would just keep getting air in the system.If you get stuck all the problems I just talked about are pretty easy and you should be able to get some one local to help you out. I hope that helps.

[Bassyaks]

Make sure your AUX. fan is working, changing theT-.

stat in hopes of lowering the temp under load---?? Make sure your fans are coming on, both speeds

[mg93108]

[danfromsyr]

well that depends on if you have the OEM diesel radiator and 2 (2 terminal) switches

or an updated radiator with the single (3 terminal) switch

well actually either can be 'jump started' with a length of wire and a sturdy switch. since it's a switch all it does is turn on/off the wires that are connected to it..

here's an informative thread on diesel radiator switches.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=673809
_________________

[itzdshtz]

Replacing the thermostat is a good idea. Is it safe to drive during the night? Temperatures usually drop quite a bit at night or even early morning.

cheers Herman
_________________
1989 Westy
1987 Westy Syncro 2.5 M- TDI
1991 Syncro, future 1.9 M- TDI
2005 Audi allroad 4.2
2005 S4
http://vanagonsyncroproject-herman.blogspot.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/itzdshtz/VanagonSyncroProject02

[MarkWard]

I would suggest drilling a small 1/8" hole in the thermostat. It helps the coolant level to equalize on both sides of the thermostat when filling. If not, you will want to fill the engine with coolant through the cylinder head hose fitting. This prevents it from getting air bound.

If the thermostat has been there a while as mentioned, you will likely snap at least one of the cover bolts. If the job goes bad, complete waterpump comes off easily enough.
_________________
☮️

[Wildthings]

What is "very hot"? Are you loosing coolant? If you aren't loosing coolant, you are probably not hurting anything. I would think twice about tearing something apart at any distance from an autoparts or at least a bus stop.

Something that you could fix in 30 minutes parked out back of an autoparts could take you days if you are an hour out of town.

[Microbusdeluxe]

If you can get south to La Paz Geraldo's VW shop, right in town, is very helpful.
_________________
'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[Theslowdutchman]

[mg93108]

::::Update::::
So we leave tomorrow morning.
I found out that the HIGH fan was not coming on at all. I'm guessing it's the sensor/switch.
I jumped the HIGH fan and it ran perfectly. So I am using the temp sensor/switch that is for the low fan to turn on the HIGH. I just switched the wire leads. Then I made a jumper for the low fan and plan to run it whenever the vehicle is running. It's really hot so I can't see how running the low can the whole time will be a bad idea. It would probably be on most of the time anyway.
I decided not to try a "field repair" of the thermostat given the multiple warnings about the possibility of breaking the bolts.
When I get back, I'm going to replace both fan switch/sensors. I might go with that 3-way switch but I'm not sure of the advantage to doing that. I also noticed that the short hose on the radiator looks old as do the clamps and the bleeder valve. I need to check with the previous owner about the water pump history.
I guess the whole cooling system needs some love. ❤️

Is there an upgrade that I should know about now that I'm going to be getting into all of this?

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS!!!!!!!!

[epowell]