About Rocky Racoon Expertise Most questions that relate to interior, and exterior equipment removal, and re-installation. Also, mechanical repairs of the engine, and the axles, and the brakes.
Experience 35 years auto repair experience. 3 years specifically Volkswagen. 10 years ago, graduated from general technical college. Deans list graduate. One of several hundred, out of several thousand to compete, and win recognition within Volkswagen for knowledge, and excellence.
Expert: Rocky Racoon Date: 6/8/2007 Subject: 2000 New Beetle Cooling Problem
Question QUESTION: Hello,
I replaced the thermostat on the 2000 New Beetle 2.0 SOHC engine and read where the water pump impellers were possibly plastic. While having the thermostat "gooseneck" off, I was able to actually see the impellers of the water pump and they rotated as they should while bumping the engine. If the impeller is rotating I presume it should be pumping. This leads me to believe I may have blocked lines or a severely corroded radiator. Any suggestions? The coolant was filled with rust and I am now planning on a flush. Also, have there been reports of bad electric motors on the fans for the radiator?
ANSWER: Bud..Hi there, did you do the thermostat replacement yourself? When you refilled the engine cooling system, did you follow the factory guidelines on evacuating the entire cooling system to a pressure of 2 bar, and then refill with fresh, low phosphate, pink coolant from your Volkswagen dealer? Since the gooseneck was off it should have been possible to feel the impeller with 2 fingers. I always feel them to see if they are still secure on the drive shaft. Cooling system problems are created, more often than not, by not getting the system filled with the right stuff, and not starting with a fully evacuated system.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hello again.
When you refilled the engine cooling system, did you follow the factory guidelines on evacuating the entire cooling system to a pressure of 2 bar, and then refill with fresh, low phosphate, pink coolant from your Volkswagen dealer?
No.
Can you explain? I have purchased a Haynes manual but have not had time to get back to the VW. And I have no idea what "2 bar" means.
I did not feel the impeller. Is it possible that it is free spinning on the shaft?
Also, the top on the reservoir has no rubber seal. Should it?
Sorry to ramble.
Bud
Answer Hey Bud...There is a special tool that has to be inserted into the filler neck of the coolant reservoir bottle, and then "shop air" at about 100 psi needs to be used to evacuate the system to 1.5, to 2 bar of pressure. Once that's done, wait about 5 to 10 minutes, and watch for any leakdown. If the pressure drops, there air leaks in the system, and the coolant will be lost if the engine is filled then. So, provided the system holds vacuum, fill the cooling system with the Volkswagen specific "pink" coolant, mixed half, and half with water. That should make it last for a while. The tool is called "Air-Lift."
