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Date:         Mon, 10 Jan 2000 17:14:50 +0100
Reply-To:     Robin Oomkes <robin.oomkes@SWIFT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robin Oomkes <robin.oomkes@SWIFT.COM>
Organization: S.W.I.F.T. sc
Subject:      Re: Vanagon diesel engine transplants
Comments: To: DCrammond@AOL.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Dar Crammond wrote:

> > Also, any things to look for in an older Westy that > > may lead to problems? I > > know nothing about the RV side of the equation, but > > am a fairly competent > > mechanic.

Main things to check as they can be a bummer to fix:

1) All plumbing. Fill the potable water tank to the brim, and check inside the cabinets for any leakage from the filler tubes. Flip the control panel on and verify that green water light comes on. Switch on the tap for a while. You should get pretty strong water pressure. While tap is running, check for leakage inside kitchen cabinet. Let sink fill up completely, then remove the plug. See if it drains completely, again without leaking into the kitchen cabinet. Empty water tank (by unscrewing underfloor cap) to check if control panel light goes to yellow and then red. 2) Check if fridge will light on propane. It should be possible to get it to light in approx 30 seconds. If it needs any special tricks, (hold this button, squeeze that pipe, strike match with third hand, face east while lighting) make sure the owner teaches them to you. If fridge works well, you will not smell propane in the interior, you will feel heat coming out of the vent behind the stove and out of the flue on the outside of the van, you will see the green indicator light on the control panel, and you may see the gas flame through the looking hole in the bottom left corner of the fridge. 3) Electrics: connect the van to mains, and check if the trip switch works properly. This means wiring is basically ok. 4) Bench/bed: make sure this converts smoothly from bed to bench and vice versa. 5) Eberspächer gasoline heater (if applicable): switch on. Green light should come on on control module, after 2-3 mins it should start putting out a *lot* of heat. If red light comes on: heater innards need repair. Expensive. If green light comes on for 2-3 mins but nothing happens and the unit switches off again: insufficient battery voltage. Battery light on control panel will be red. 6) The more westy accessories you get, the better. Make sure to ask for: the front table and its support, mosquito screen for rear hatch, mosquito screen for sliding door, screen/curtain for roof vent, Paulchen or Fiamma rear hatch bicycle rack, Porta-Potti storage box/jump seat. Even if the owner doesn't have these, the absence of them can help you get the price down.

Anything else (and perhaps the above) speaks for itself. Rule of thumb: if interior (woodwork, trim panels, upholstery) look nice and fresh, the van's had a loving owner. If it's a dump, then don't trust the mechanicals either.

Good luck Robin/Holland 90 Vanagon Atlantic TD 84 Westy Joker D (for sale)


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