Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 17:39:15 -0800
Reply-To: BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
Subject: Re: can someone help me?
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
Tina:
Welcome to the wonderful world of Vanagon ownership! You will find this to
be a great community and a terrific resource. I have yet to talk to or meet
a List member that I didn't think was really a great person. That being
said, let me give you my $0.02 worth on some of your questions:
#1 - Head gaskets on a wasserboxer (water-cooled Vanagon) are a plague.
Blown head gaskets are a known problem, especially if the cooling system is
not maintained properly. Did you buy this van from a VW dealer? Was the
coolant in the reservoir blue, orange, green, or what color? Bottom line,
the head gaskets should NOT have blown in less than a year, unless you drive
80,000 miles a year and don't change the coolant.
#2 - With rare exceptions, you are probably better off NOT having the car
worked on by the dealer, unless you are forced to because of the warranty.
Even then, I would suggest that you do research and go to them well armed
with information about exactly what you think the problem is and how they
should address it. (The list can be very helpful with this)
#3 - The sagging is common on Westies. Almost all lean to the drivers side
due to the weight of the cabinets and camping equipment. The only solution
that I know of is to replace the springs (or have them re-stretched by a
spring shop). I have some mild leaning in my Syncro Westy, and I am in the
process of replacing the springs partly for this reason.
There are a lot of list members in the Sea-Tac area, I am sure you can find
some help. Good luck and welcome to the list.
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: tina [mailto:tina@BENTONREA.COM]
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2000 5:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: can someone help me?
hi,
I have a 1990 vanagon camper GL and I purchased it from a dealer (yes, I
paid to much) anyway, I am getting it from the shop today cuz it had a blown
head gasket. I was told they were new when I purchased the van. I have
kept up on all the maintenance and found it odd that it was blown since they
were new (a year ago). I have an extended warranty on it, but it will end
soon. The other thing is.. it sags a bit to the left (where all the
cabinets/fridge/stove etc are.) You can tell from looking at the vehicle
from the back. Is there suppose to be a sag due to the weight? or is it
really suppose to be perfectly even & straight?
What I really need is someone to take a look at it & tell me what all
should be fixed. or what parts need replacing. It is my first van and I
really LOVE it. I just don't want to get screwed out of fixing or replacing
what should be fixed/replaced before my warranty runs out...considering I
paid quite a bit for the van it should be in tip top shape & I want to be
sure it is before my warranty is out.
I am in eastern WA between Tri-cities & Yakima. If there is anyone out
there who would be willing to take a look for me, I will pay them. or, if
you know of someone who would, PLEASE PLEASE let me know.
thanks,
tina
90 vanagon camper GL
[text/html]
| 
