1989 Econoline Hi Top Conversion Heating

jjrai wrote:
I agree with drsolo, and might take it a bit further. When I bought my used van I had the cooling system flushed, all the belts changed..I told the mechanics about my temperature concerns. They blew bugs out of it. I have my belts changed any time significant work is done under the hood. There is no reason an '89 cannot be reliable as long as its well maintained.

Yes. I had the cooling system, the brake system flushed, the transmission system and the AC system flushed and fluid replaced. I told him to replace any of the belts or hoses that looked the least bit "iffy". I drive alone and I trust my van because I got a good mechanic.. and AAA! This last trip we had an antenna motor wouldnt quit, had to find a place to pull the plug on it. It would run the battery down, altho I have a "priority start" on the battery so the van always starts. It is the best investment since I got the alarm system installed there has been various battery drains. Latest is the (newly installed) radio turns itself on, runs the battery down. I also got a "jump" thing that charges when I am plugged in. And, of course, I carry jumper cables.

I agree with drsolo, and might take it a bit further. When I bought my used van I had the cooling system flushed, all the belts changed..I told the mechanics about my temperature concerns. They blew bugs out of it. I have my belts changed any time significant work is done under the hood. There is no reason an '89 cannot be reliable as long as its well maintained.

Econoline424 wrote:
I recently purchased a 1989 Econoline Conversion van (75K mi)
the temp gauge moves toward the "High" mark as soon as the van is warmed up.
mechanic who said it was likely one or combination of radiator, thermostat, water pump. $1200 - $1500 to fix all three. Right now, I don't have much confidence that the van could withstand the rigors of a long distant trip.
The thermostat was changed in August by the previous owner.
Also, after shutting off the van at one point, and restarting the engine, the temp needle moved all the way to the High point, but then came back down to slightly above Normal.
Any suggestions? Do you experienced folks think this is a radiator/water pump problem?

I got a 1992 GMC in 2011. I told my "former" mechanics to go over it, bring it up to "long distance capable". Well, they didnt. The brake fluid was dirt. There was almost no oil. The radiator cap was frozen on. I got a new mechanic that knows his stuff. And you need a good mechanic to go over the whole van with a fine toothed comb and tell you what is the problem and what needs to be done. These older vans can go well over 200k miles, but older also means seals, hoses and belts are old as well and need to be replaced. I came up with a quick check list (before I leave on trips) in addition to anything I want him to repair.

check water in battery, clean terminals, check wires to starter etc.
check condition of tires and air pressure
check brakes and fluid
check oil, replace fluid and filter if oil is dirty
check transmission fluid
check belts for wear and replace worn
check hoses for wear and replace worn
check headlights, brake and signal lights
grease whatever needs to be greased on suspension, etc.

My radiator was overheating. I had an "intermittent" leak when the van sat around. He found the leak, a seal or a hose somewhere. Cheap fix. I had the oil gauge swinging wildly, had to replace some "sending" unit. Replace the thermostat. Even new ones can be "bad", it is a cheap fix if that is what it is.