Club 80-90 Forums

Looking to purchase a 1989 1.9 petrol panel van but has problem that baffles me. On running, coolant moves from expansion tank (ex t) into top up tank (tt) and the dash light starts flashing. If cap is removed from ex t it fills back up again, once ex t is full, cap is put back on and cycle starts again. Temp gauge never seems to get too hot and mileage is 170K. Initial thought was bleeding required but has been done according to Haynes manual. Ex t cap replaced and not resolved. Have heard about valve between ex t and tt. Initial thoughts are head gasket but given symptoms, can anyone suggest how to confirm or to look at anything else?

sounds like there's still air in the system and just needs bleeding again....and again.see this post http://www.club80-90.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=819

Could be the classic symtom of a pressurised cooling system?, it blows coolant out of exp tank, thus creating a low level in that tank. But should be getting rather warm.
170K on the original engine?, say your prayers

Thanks for the replies
Bled it three times and pretty sure not an airlock
Investigated further and looks more like head gasket, shame coz interior was mint
Have got a '85 panel van 1.9 petrol with 100K and more suits my style - bashed about but honest! Have cleaned up the dash to find the indicator light glows all the time, but this appears to be a more common problem, so it seems... 'They all do that mate!'

'They don't all do it' - if properly mainatined

Earthing problems?, they are getting old and crpped up

It's all knackered, throw it away and get a VEGE replacement for all of it as soon and as expensively as possible...... or something.

Well I dont see how that could be the head gasket. Is there water in the oil or vice versa? Id say at 170,000 miles, that engine is going to need replacing soon. Its pretty tired at this stage whatever the maintenance. Youd want to be budgeting that into your price. You could just bang a diesel engine in there instead if youre going down that route. Theyre less hassle to run and are much more economical. Second hand engines arent too hard to come by anyway if you look in the right places. Its up to you though.

airhead wrote:Well I dont see how that could be the head gasket. Is there water in the oil or vice versa? Id say at 170,000 miles, that engine is going to need replacing soon. Its pretty tired at this stage whatever the maintenance. Youd want to be budgeting that into your price. You could just bang a diesel engine in there instead if youre going down that route. Theyre less hassle to run and are much more economical. Second hand engines arent too hard to come by anyway if you look in the right places. Its up to you though.

the "head gasket" on a WBX has nothing to do with the oil and water seperation..... the water jacket seals havent either, which is what everone means by "head gaskets" on the WBX....

Hey? My post has just dissappeared...how did that happen?

what i posted was that we used to have coolant problems resulting water moving like you say. Turned out to be a blocked pipe because previous owners had put wrong coolant in. It collects as a sandy type residue in the rubber pipes over time and causes a blockage. a wire coat hanger was used to poke out all the crap and touch wood it has been fine ever since...
Kathy