Water Cooled & Air Cooled - I looked on Wiki

[TravellingChick]

Hi

I have a water cooled 1985 Autohomes, can I fill the radiator from behind the numberplate or is that just the screen wash? How frequently should I expect to have to re-fill the rad?

Sneaky question for a friend who has an air cooled, what's the effect of sitting in a long traffic jam in terms of over heating?

I'm pleased to say my van coped brilliantly with a 2.5hr journey of 5 miles recently and my only stress is if I stall her she then won't start for AGES until cooled down which is mightily

TIA
Sarah

[Pepperami]

Screen wash is under the rubber mat on passenger side.

[Ian Hulley]

Open the engine lid and look down at it .... there are 2 plastic tanks ... on your left is the main 'header tank' this has a pressure cap (which looks like a Dalek) and a hose which connects it to the 'top-up tank' which is behind the number plate flap. The header tank must be full to the brim and the top-up tank to the 'Max' line.

The basic idea is that you maintain the level in the top-up tank and that tops up the header tank. If you keep having to top this up (with a 50/50 mix of water and anti-freeze) you have a water leak somewhere which requires a knowledgeable investigation before it costs you much money.

May I suggest you buy a Haynes manual and acquaint yourself with a friendly garage or even more frindly VW enthusiast near to you.

Ian.

[TravellingChick]

Okay thanks. I'll have a look for the screen wash tank then. I had been told it was the tank behind the number plate

I do intend to get a Haynes manual, was watching one on ebay but missed the end of the auction and didn't have enough cash on me at Volksworld last week.

So far (finger's x'd) there doesn't appear to be any leaks going on anywhere..........

Thanks again

[jamesc76]

I had been told it was the tank behind the number plate

I do intend to get a Haynes manual, was watching one on ebay but missed the end of the auction and didn't have enough cash on me at Volksworld last week.

Thanks again

Please do nt tell us you have been putting screen wash solution into the top up tan coz if you have you need to replace all the coolant!!!

Halford sell Haynes manuals if not on the shelf they can order you one in

[TravellingChick]

I had been told it was the tank behind the number plate

I do intend to get a Haynes manual, was watching one on ebay but missed the end of the auction and didn't have enough cash on me at Volksworld last week.

Thanks again

Please do nt tell us you have been putting screen wash solution into the top up tan coz if you have you need to replace all the coolant!!!

Halford sell Haynes manuals if not on the shelf they can order you one in

No it's okay! I haven't done anything yet! Not even bought any oil or anti-freeze yet but intend to do that tomorrow as we've got a trip planned over Easter.

Do I really need anti-freeze now it's spring tho or is it just best practice to use it at all times?

[Pepperami]

Antifreeze at all times it helps stop the technical thingies in the engine rusting.

[Ian Hulley]

Do you know where the dipstick and oil filler is ?

Ian.

[ermie571]

Travellingchick,

Mine is doing the same thing with the starting...I am off to purchase a new switch this afternoon. BUT>>> I was given a hint to try WD40 in the slot the key goes into....so I sprayed the key both sides....and the thing started!! Stank of WD40 but hey, it was running!

Maybe worth carrying a tin. Will let you know whether the switch thingy sorts the problem . (if you have a new tin with the straw, you can spray straight into the slot.


take care

Em
x

[andisnewsyncro]

Bit worrying that someone told you that the washer bottle was behind the number plate; who was it, hopefully not the previous owners !! Is there a way of double checking that the last service the van received definately didn't involve filling up the coolant top up tank with screen wash?

Have another read on the wiki about coolant system bleeding and anti-freeze & oil specifications before you buy anything. There must be somebody nearby who can come over and walk you through of where things are, what they do & what goes where.

[TravellingChick]

Em, thanks for the tip. I'll give it a go, anything is worth a try! Let me know how you go with the switch.

I might've got the screen wash thing wrong from skim reading something else but also the seatbelt fitter guy (who specialises in VW ) told me this.

All the service history that I have is from VW garages and the guy I bought from does VWs up so I am fairly secure that no-one's put screenwash in the water tank(s).

I'll check out the wiki for info on oil and anti-freeze.

I'm going to the Fox & Goose in May so maybe some kind souls will take pity on me and talk me thru the engine a bit!

Thanks again.
Sarah

[Steve T]

Travellingchick

I have a Haynes manual for sale in the for sale section, also hopeing to go to Fox and Goose, can post it if you still need it urgent, and get payment from you when there, or if you can wait till then I could bring it along for you. Happy to pass on what I know when there, but sure there are others with more knowledge on the Illustrious T25, I will drop the price to £12 + postage (no more than £2.99) as it would go to someone who is in need of information regarding the well being of their camper. Just PM me if you need to leave details.

The manual is a "VW Transporter 1982 to 1990 (up to H reg) Petrol" Haynes manual number 3452

Steve

[TravellingChick]

Steve

That would be fantastic! Thanks so much. I'll PM you.

Thanks again
Sarah