[Vwdiesel] Car runs hot with bra on. Take it off.

[Val Christian]

I can't specifically address your head issue, but I had something similar
happen one summer on my 91 Jetta.  The car was stopped, and the AC running.
The overpressure blew on the dryer, which resulted in a new dryer, evac and 
recharge.  I already had 30# of R-12, but if you had to buy R-12 at today's
penalty prices, it would be expensive.   Oh, when it blew, it was a great big 
cloud of mist and oil, on a sticky hot day.  Fun fun.  I was not a cool cookie
driving home.  

Just guessing...but look for a voltage drop on the power to your fan.
That could increase the current draw.  Your bushings/bearings in the fan 
could also be getting sticky.  The increased sticksion (I think that is really
a term (u(s) - u(k)) ) could also convert into a higher startup
current.  

I'd consider replacing the blade fuse, with a blade CB, like used for 
headlights.  At least it'll try to come on.  If you have an inductive 
ampmeter for DC, I'd look at the peak current and the average current. 
My guess is that the average current is getting high, and cycling 
the fan with a high startup current and who knows what else, is 
causing the fuse to get warm.

The fans are different.  My A2 uses a different fan (housing at least)
than the A1 fan I pulled off of one of my A1 Rabbits.

Good luck.

Val


> 
> I know that I have mentioned this in the past, but it appears as though =
> my problem has reared its ugly head again.  Occasionally, but not =
> always, the rad fans blow a fuse ( the one near the coolant bottle ).  =
> Today was a bad day, apparently with an unknown blown fuse again, my =
> wife headed off to work.  Well, I still haven't taken the bra off and =
> its snowing quite a bit.  I guess enough caked on to block the airflow =
> and this started to overheat the car.  She pulled off, let the car =
> settle and called me.  Now the bra is in the trunk and there is a new =
> fuse in it again.  I just hope it didn't toast the head gasket, but it =
> seems to be ok so far.   My guess is that because the fans are old, that =
> the start-up current on the motors is a bit higher than it used to be.   =
> Normally, I would even think of putting in a higher rated fuse, but was =
> contemplating this.  Is there a higher one for those blade fuses ?  If =
> not, I guess I should think about new fans.  I don't want VW ones again, =
> too much $$$.  I was thinking aftermarket or stealing ones from a =
> wrecked car.  Ones from a wrecker could have questionable performance ( =
> as mine do ) so that's a gamble, so I am leaning towards aftermarket.  =
> Any ideas that won't cost a small fortune ?
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