• Registered: 2010-05-25
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

Hi, It's been a few years since I was active on the forum.  I had to sell the Volkswagens and swear off of them for a while to get a roof over my head, but suddenly, my girlfriend wants to buy a camper for us, so I think I'll be back soon (I see a garage in the future). Anyway, sorry for the water cooled question, but we're looking at a 1986 camper, and I want to go through the cooling system.  In looking at pressure testers, I can't find one advertising to fit the vanagon.  If anyone out there knows which model I should buy, I'd greatly appreciate the advice.

  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

Hiya Kevin,

Welcome back!

To answer your question.......................I dunno.  Don't really know squat concerning watercoolers.

But here's a suggestion.  You might want to try visiting your local VW dealer's service department and have a chat with the service advisor.  These guys are VERY likely to have the info you need.

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck
  • Registered: 2010-05-25
  • Posts: 4

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

Thanks for the welcome back.  I feel like the luckiest guy on the forum today with my girlfriend's full approval of a new camper.  Unfortunately, my local VW dealer is 60 miles away, so I don't get there often.  However:  I walked into my local Advance Auto, and they have a coolant system pressure tester in their rental tool collection.  I pay $180, use the tool, bring it back, and get $180 back.  The big box auto parts stores do have their place. 

I drove that 85 today, and it looks good, but there's this hum at 55 miles an hour coming from the front wheels.  The owner says that bearings and rack and pinion were replaced, as well as tires, and that the hum has stumped a few mechanics, so I'm not so sure it's the one for me.  It hums when going straight, then quiets down briefly when I turn the wheel in either direction, then starts up again.  Perhaps I should make another post, but if anyone has any theories, I'd love to know.  I'm still thinking tire out of balance or bearings installed wrong;  I'll be investigating in the morning.  Perhaps I'll be back in air cooled world again soon. 

Thanks again

Kevin

  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

Hiya Kevin,

Does that hum sound rotational?

Feel any kind of vibe in the steering wheel?

Only at 55 mph?

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck
  • Registered: 2010-05-25
  • Posts: 4

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

Good questions Mike.  Definitely rotational, and I can feel it in the wheel, AND, it only seems to happen between 50 and 60 mph.  65+, and 45 are pretty quiet.  Does this get me closer to a good theory?

  • From: B.C.Canada
  • Registered: 2005-01-26
  • Posts: 2,586

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

If you can feel a lesser version than this at 27 MPH then it's a tire out of balance or drum. It would be worse at 110 MPH. Any big hills around there?

jim

'71 SB(DD only 79K(now 84K miles) & '78 FI Westy (project)
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Registered: 2005-09-10
  • Posts: 2,318

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

Kevin wrote:

Good questions Mike.  Definitely rotational, and I can feel it in the wheel, AND, it only seems to happen between 50 and 60 mph.  65+, and 45 are pretty quiet.  Does this get me closer to a good theory?

If you feel it in the steering wheel at 55 it could be a worn steering system component (tie rods, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc. whatever this vehicle has)...or it could be a wheel balance problem...or it could be an improperly worn out tire.

My Super Beetle has the same problem at around 50-55mph...but at 45 or 65mph...everything is fine.

But what complicates things is that you mentioned:

It hums when going straight, then quiets down briefly when I turn the wheel in either direction, then starts up again.

...this to me sounds more like a worn out or loose wheel bearing.  In one of my former air-cooled VW's I had a worn out front wheel bearing that would be "louder" depending if I was going straight or turning.  But like "Bookwus" asked earlier...is this sound "rotational".  Does it get louder and/or faster sounding as speed increases?  Whether you're going 10mph or 65mph?

Hope this helps,

- Nick

1979 Super Beetle Convertible
  • Registered: 2010-05-25
  • Posts: 4

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

It's interesting, not that easy to pinpoint, but when I'm cruising at 55, the hum is there, and it's loud (as if there are monster truck tires on it).  It quiets down for about a half a second when I turn the wheel, but then, after the turn is initiated, it's back in full force.  The noise does get louder, and a bit higher pitched when the van's speed increases.

The tires look great.  The owner tells me that the wheel bearings were replaced (because of the hum), and the noise didn't go away.  Perhaps there's a chance that the wrong wheel bearings are installed, and the person who replaced them just ordered  by part number.  I'll have to take the front wheels off, then at least do some wiggling.

The owner also told me that they had an alignment done, but perhaps there are some parts worn out enough to keep it humming along.  More need for investigation

Thanks for the suggestions.  Jim, If I find a hill big enough to get that van up to 110, I'll send a PM along; perhaps you'd like to test wink

Kevin

Last edited by Kevin (2010-05-26 09:17:23)

  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Registered: 2005-09-10
  • Posts: 2,318

Re: Water cooled question: Which pressure tester to buy?

Kevin wrote:

It's interesting, not that easy to pinpoint, but when I'm cruising at 55, the hum is there, and it's loud (as if there are monster truck tires on it).  It quiets down for about a half a second when I turn the wheel, but then, after the turn is initiated, it's back in full force.  The noise does get louder, and a bit higher pitched when the van's speed increases.

Diagnosing car problems is not always straight forward under ideal conditions...and discussing it over the internet where we cannot see, hear, feel, or smell anything just makes it that much harder.  The best we can do is suggest possibilities...then you can check things out as you said...and then update us on how things go so we can narrow things down.

Good luck,

- Nick

1979 Super Beetle Convertible