Club 80-90 Forums

Hey Pups,
Our first trip out in newly bought camper; managed 17miles closer than home to VikingVolksFest, before either i stalled at roundabout or bus overheated and konked out.
Basically, wouldn't start up. Waited 10 mins, still wouldn't start up. Tried a few more times every ten mins to no avail. Eventually drained battery.
Called rescue. 90 mins later, guy puts bus on wagon and we off to nrst layby.
First thing the guy did was take off the coolant cap, which spewed out warm/hot fluid to which he advised not to go any further, so took us home on lorry.
Advised us that the liquid shouldn't of been hot and should of been pressurised, issue could be with head gasket.

Should mention, bus is 1900cc watercooled, with manual switch for rad fan, which i didn't turn on as i had no way of knowing when it was overheating or not.
Was travelling at 54mph in free traffic.

Mechanic found no problem with head gasket and is currently switching over rad fan to automatic sensor and stated there was an air block due to coolant cap removal which they flushed thru.
Total charge 70 quid for finding problem, providing sensor and doing the work.

My question is:
Could this really be that simple a solution? and.. am i getting a good deal on the cost of works?

and.. should i be investigating anything else?

p.s. Still got to Festival, however in a nissan note with a tent. Enjoyed it alot, bands were vgood.

Cheers Pups.

Hi mate,

Cab't really give detailed info, sorry, but can give you some general tips..

1. Fan...should be controlled by a switch on the rad....note...this comes on when water in the rad reaches a certain temp, not the water in the engine! Could be one or two speed depending on your wiring. Some folks have what they call a "chicken switch" on the dash, so they can throw the fan on if they want to override the sensor. Debate rages over whether this is a good / necessary / unnecessary to do.

2. is you temp guage not working? The needle should rise as the engine warms.....this needle reflects the temp in the engine (not the rad!) Get this working asap if its dead. May be as simple as a new sensor. Do a search on here for testing temperature sensor.

3. Start reading the wiki, and technical threads....you will begin to understand the way your bus works....what to check....where to check it....

I really hope you enjoy your bus! You have some teething issues which by overcoming will teach you about your bus!

Em
xx

Thanks very much Em. Will get there slowly but surely.

One thing I did think of.....what colour is the pressure cap on the expansion bottle in the engine bay...if its black its old.....very old....may be allowing water out, but not sucking back in,,, or not allowing water out, therefore pressure builds (I think).

If its blue, its newer, but could be from the likes of GSF (known to be errrr unreliable). Try Brickwerks for a new one (around a tenner). Called a darlik cap - (cos it looks like one) again, search on here as there are instructions on how to test them. Just keep and eye and see what the thing does.

as to why it won't start from warm....have no idea, sorry.

start with the basics...do a full service....oil, plugs, leads, cap, rotor arm, and then the gear box oil. Plently of stuff on here to guide you.

then at least you know what you have changed. (and keep the old as a get you home set that you know will get you home!)

Em
x

Hi Pups,

With respect to the hot starting issue, did you have your foot flat to the floor on the throttle when turning the key? I believe that's the correct hot starting proceedure with the 1.9 watercooled petrol and it's certainly what I have to do with mine.....

Good luck.

Ali

Had similar problem but with an Aircooled, we sorted the issue with help off here, but basically i replaced the plugs, leads, dizzy caps, popints etc, seal around the engine and checked all conections, the hot starting we nailed down to to small a battery on the van. Once replaced with a battery that could power the titanic no issue, but I do now start the van with foot on the floor as described on here and it kicks in every time. has took some time to solve but thats half the fun.