Volks, 

Saturday, my wife wanted to drive the newly rebuilt 88 with me being a passenger ( I can see it becoming her daily driver over ol'yeller).  So, by the grace of God, I showed her the coolant temp gauge, where the needle should be when you are driving, where it should be if you are idling in traffic for a long time, etc.  And, most importantly, told her that if that red light starts flashing and/or you hear a buzzer, to stop right then, it did not matter where, for you have a coolant leak, and the smallest distance can fry the motor.  

Well, she drops me off at the Barber shop, and on her way back to get me, she calls....."the light is on!" I pulled into a gas station and cut it off" PERFECT!  Turned out to be a leak in the hard pipe that comes off the right head and goes behind the crank pulley.  Pulled one off an old motor i had, and fixed in about one hour....bled the system, and all is well.  

Be sure your family members know about that light, and you may get lucky as i just did.
Adam P

81 Vanagon Westy (The Brick)
70 Single Cab "Whitey" 
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg 
1984 Partsmobile (for sale)
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)