Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel

On Aug 21, 10:31 pm, 86GolfDiesel
wrote:
> After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
> drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
> might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
> temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
> steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
> over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
> bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
> engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
> looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
> side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
> cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
> will in the morning.
>
> What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>
> Why am I not getting heat?
>
> Thanks

I checked, no coolant, bone dry.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

> "86GolfDiesel" wrote in message
>
>> After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
>> drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
>> might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
>> temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
>> steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
>> over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
>> bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
>> engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
>> looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
>> side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
>> cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
>> will in the morning.
>>
>> What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>>
>> Why am I not getting heat?
>>
>> Thanks


I think you are talking about the little cap over the transmission bell
housing. NO that does not hold any coolant but does allow visual access to
marks on the flywheel for timing your engine.

Look for any hoses that are leaking! All it takes is a little pin hole and
the coolant will spray out. If the hole is on the top side then the mist
will spray up, so with a little common sense and detective work you will
find it!

--
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

On Aug 22, 5:59 am, "dave AKA vwdoc1" wrote:
> > "86GolfDiesel" wrote in message
> >
> >> After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
> >> drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
> >> might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
> >> temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
> >> steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
> >> over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
> >> bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
> >> engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
> >> looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
> >> side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
> >> cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
> >> will in the morning.
>
> >> What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>
> >> Why am I not getting heat?
>
> >> Thanks
>
> I think you are talking about the little cap over the transmission bell
> housing. NO that does not hold any coolant but does allow visual access to
> marks on the flywheel for timing your engine.
>
> Look for any hoses that are leaking! All it takes is a little pin hole and
> the coolant will spray out. If the hole is on the top side then the mist
> will spray up, so with a little common sense and detective work you will
> find it!
>
> --
> later,
> dave
> (One out of many daves)

cap over the transmission bell, the cap should be replaced? correct.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

On Aug 21, 11:35 pm, "Dave" wrote:
> "86GolfDiesel" wrote in message
>
>
>
>
>
> > After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
> > drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
> > might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
> > temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
> > steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
> > over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
> > bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
> > engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
> > looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
> > side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
> > cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
> > will in the morning.
>
> > What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>
> > Why am I not getting heat?
>
> > Thanks
>
> My guess. Coolant pump failure. Hole is a relief valve orifice when the
> pump fails. Coolant exits there. Probably green coolant.
> Dave

Water Pump?
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:14:45 -0000, 86GolfDiesel
wrote:

>On Aug 21, 11:35 pm, "Dave" wrote:
>> "86GolfDiesel" wrote in message
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
>> > drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
>> > might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
>> > temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
>> > steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
>> > over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
>> > bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
>> > engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
>> > looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
>> > side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
>> > cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
>> > will in the morning.
>>
>> > What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>>
>> > Why am I not getting heat?
>>
>> > Thanks
>>
>> My guess. Coolant pump failure. Hole is a relief valve orifice when the
>> pump fails. Coolant exits there. Probably green coolant.
>> Dave
>
>Water Pump?
Water pump is on the right side of the engine underneath the timing
belt. Somwhere about the alternator. You have to remove timing belt to
see it probably. Not for sure though but it has been in that area
since they first started making water cooled 4 cylinder engines.

Sides of cars are always referenced when you sit in the drivers seat
facing forward. Left side in an North American car is the side the
driver sits in. Same way with a horse, a donkey, a burro, a rhino, a
bicycle, a motorcycle or anything else you might ride. Now if you
choose to fly or sail something your have to deal with port and
starboard. Remember port wine is red.

That plug in the transmission bell housing is nothing to worry about.
You can get a new one if you want but many old cars are missing their
plug.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

On Aug 22, 5:59 am, "dave AKA vwdoc1" wrote:
> > "86GolfDiesel" wrote in message
> >
> >> After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
> >> drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
> >> might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
> >> temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
> >> steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
> >> over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
> >> bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
> >> engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
> >> looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
> >> side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
> >> cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
> >> will in the morning.
>
> >> What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>
> >> Why am I not getting heat?
>
> >> Thanks
>
> I think you are talking about the little cap over the transmission bell
> housing. NO that does not hold any coolant but does allow visual access to
> marks on the flywheel for timing your engine.
>
> Look for any hoses that are leaking! All it takes is a little pin hole and
> the coolant will spray out. If the hole is on the top side then the mist
> will spray up, so with a little common sense and detective work you will
> find it!
>
> --
> later,
> dave
> (One out of many daves)

Coolant is to be filled at the resivor? or disconnect main hoses then
fill?
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

"Jim Behning" wrote in message

> On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:14:45 -0000, 86GolfDiesel
> wrote:
>
>>On Aug 21, 11:35 pm, "Dave" wrote:
>>> "86GolfDiesel" wrote in message
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> > After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
>>> > drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
>>> > might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
>>> > temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
>>> > steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
>>> > over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
>>> > bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
>>> > engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
>>> > looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
>>> > side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
>>> > cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
>>> > will in the morning.
>>>
>>> > What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>>>
>>> > Why am I not getting heat?
>>>
>>> > Thanks
>>>
>>> My guess. Coolant pump failure. Hole is a relief valve orifice when
>>> the
>>> pump fails. Coolant exits there. Probably green coolant.
>>> Dave
>>
>>Water Pump?
> Water pump is on the right side of the engine underneath the timing
> belt. Somwhere about the alternator. You have to remove timing belt to
> see it probably. Not for sure though but it has been in that area
> since they first started making water cooled 4 cylinder engines.
>
> Sides of cars are always referenced when you sit in the drivers seat
> facing forward. Left side in an North American car is the side the
> driver sits in. Same way with a horse, a donkey, a burro, a rhino, a
> bicycle, a motorcycle or anything else you might ride. Now if you
> choose to fly or sail something your have to deal with port and
> starboard. Remember port wine is red.
>
> That plug in the transmission bell housing is nothing to worry about.
>
>Original poster needs to tell us where the leak is atb exactly It sounds
>like he's talking about something else on the front of the engine. He says
>he's standing in front of the car looking at the right side of the engine.
>The engines right , or his. ? Still could be a hose or the overflow tank
>cracked . OP needs to fill the car with water and run it in your driveway
>and see where the water sprays from when it gets pressure and hot. The heat
>wont work without coolant in it either. That's not a problem . .
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

On Aug 22, 7:20 am, Jim Behning
wrote:
> On Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:14:45 -0000, 86GolfDiesel
>
>
>
> wrote:
> >On Aug 21, 11:35 pm, "Dave" wrote:
> >> "86GolfDiesel" wrote in message
>
> >>
>
> >> > After driving about 100 miles, I stopped in town for dinner. When I
> >> > drove home I turned on the heat and it never warmed up. Thinking it
> >> > might be the coolant, the red indicator light never came on. The
> >> > temperature needle was to the right. When I arrived home, it appeared
> >> > steam was coming out of the hood. A fine mist of water/coolant was all
> >> > over the engine. I inspected the hose and found no leak. I looked at
> >> > bottom of the engine, on the right side. I found opening in the
> >> > engine. It looks like a light green plastic filler hole. The shape
> >> > looks like it accepts a bolt of some kind. Bottom of the engine right
> >> > side if your standing in front of the car. What is that hole? Should a
> >> > cap be placed there? I didn't check the fluid level in the resevior, I
> >> > will in the morning.
>
> >> > What is that Green plug/hole thing?
>
> >> > Why am I not getting heat?
>
> >> > Thanks
>
> >> My guess. Coolant pump failure. Hole is a relief valve orifice when the
> >> pump fails. Coolant exits there. Probably green coolant.
> >> Dave
>
> >Water Pump?
>
> Water pump is on the right side of the engine underneath the timing
> belt. Somwhere about the alternator. You have to remove timing belt to
> see it probably. Not for sure though but it has been in that area
> since they first started making water cooled 4 cylinder engines.
>
> Sides of cars are always referenced when you sit in the drivers seat
> facing forward. Left side in an North American car is the side the
> driver sits in. Same way with a horse, a donkey, a burro, a rhino, a
> bicycle, a motorcycle or anything else you might ride. Now if you
> choose to fly or sail something your have to deal with port and
> starboard. Remember port wine is red.
>
> That plug in the transmission bell housing is nothing to worry about.
> You can get a new one if you want but many old cars are missing their
> plug.

Thanks Dave. I ordered a new set of heater hoses etc. I found several
cracks. Looks like the water line were 1986 vintage. This fourm has
saved me some $ and helps my brain.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel 

"86GolfDiesel" wrote in message >
> Coolant is to be filled at the resivor? or disconnect main hoses then
> fill?
>

Fill the radiator through the upper radiator hose and reattach.
Fill the rest of the system through the expansion bottle while squeezing the
upper radiator hose.
Keep adding slowly and let the air come out as you squeeze that hose.
This works well on level ground but might work better if the left side of
the car is higher than the right.
Start engine, check to make sure that the hoses don't instantly start
swelling up, and run it until the radiator fan comes on a couple of times.
Always check that temperature gauge.
Top up coolant when the engine cools down.
 >> Stay informed about: Coolant issue with 1986 Golf Diesel