I got the Kombi back on the road -- it is an '86 Syncro, but it won't
get the engine warm.  I have always had trouble with this van running
a bit cold, but lately it won't get warm at all -- it stays in the lower
white arc all the time, even uphills.  I put in a new thermostat to no
avail.  The engine will get warm to the touch, but the "crossover pipes"
stay cold, and the heater blows cold air.  The only thing I can think of
is to try *another* new thermostat, and perhaps check out the thermostat
housing.  Has anybody experienced this one before?  The van runs well --
it got 20.3mpg last tank in mountain highway driving.

I suppose this is better than overheating, but the defroster won't work at
all -- just blows cold air on the windshield.  No air bubble here -- all
the pipes and hoses coming forward are cold, and the engine only get to
about 120'F -- comfortably warm to hold onto the heads after hard driving.
There is no rear heater (there is not much in the rear of a Kombi!).  Any
opinions gladly taken.  This will be the third thermostat if I change it
again, and I could not find anything wrong with the original.  If anybody
has a line on a good Syncro thermostat housing that I could get, I'd
appriciate that too.  I have not asked VW -- maybe I'll find they are
reasonable on such a Syncro-only part.  Hard to buy not knowing if there
is need.

Malcolm