Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 09:23:31 -0400
Reply-To: Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Subject: Re: [Syncro] Bidding on manuals on ebay
In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.20000413083056.0185dea0@po-2.openmarket.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
With all the talk of tech manuals, I thought I would mention 16 more
obscure factory manuals for Vanagon that exist (yes, I have them.) Take a
look at the list I reproduced off my hard drive, and which appear toward
the middle and end of this email. After you have contemplated these, you
will realize that I am trying to qualify for the fanatic award when you
find out I have another 23 neat things like this. Some day I will post what
the other 23 are. As I said in my other email, the first item, which is
also the item being auctioned at ebay, is available at the dealer so there
is no reason to pay $61 for it.
Do I qualify for the award?
>At 03:21 AM 4/13/00 -0000, Warren Chapman wrote:
> >>>>
>Today I made a couple of bids for Vanagon/Syncro tech manuals on ebay
>and (not suprised) I see I am bidding against other members of this
>list (Coyote, Brent Christenson, and(??)others)
>
>These manuals are valuable to us all and this process just drives the
>price up for the winning bidder and the manual is lost to the rest of
>us ......a "Win (at higher cost)/ Lose" situation.
>
>I'd like to propose a "Win (at lower cost)/ Win situation".
>
>When one of these manuals (or parts microfiches) comes available,
>could we agree on a designated bidder who will bid (and hopefully
>win) and obtain the item and then make a copy available to others.
>This may not step on copyright laws if the item is an out of print
>factory issue item. (Opinions on this??)
>
>It would be great if there could be a main "librarian" who could be
>the keeper of the manuals and have them available to list
>members for a reasonable fee.
>
>If members think this is a good idea, I would volunteer to do this
>for a period of one year and see how it goes. I will bid on ebay, or
>purchase items that any list member wishes to sell (if prices are
>reasonable). I will keep a running account of the cost of each item
>and post the available list and cost of the item to the list and
>figure out a system (with input from you all) on how to make them
>(legally) available.
Factory Training Manual Describing 1986+ Upgrades To Vanagon (1986-1991)
Title/Item: "1986 Vanagon and Vanagon Syncro; Service Training"
Application: All 1986-1991 Vanagon
Length: 65 pages
Publisher: Volkswagen Factory
Intended For: Factory Trained Mechanics
Description: This really cool book was meant to familiarize factory trained
Vanagon mechanics with the changes to the Vanagon that were introduced
during the 1986 year. As it is written to increase retention of key facts
among VW's own employees it is a valuable tool for the owner to familiarize
himself with the components of his vehicle. Covered are the engine, the
lubrication system, the cooling system, the fuel supply system, the
Digifant system, fuel injection components, system checks, idle stabilizer,
emission controls, four-wheel-drive parts, front axle final drive, viscous
coupling, transmission, rear differential lock, drive train protection,
front suspension, tire and wheel specifications, corrosion protection, air
conditioning components, power windows, power mirrors, special tools,
special tools for four wheel drive, etc.
Recommendation: I love this book and highly recommend to anyone with an
86-91 Vanagon whether you plan to fix your vehicle yourself or not. It is
even interesting for those with an earlier Vanagon since most of what is in
this book can be added to the earlier vans.
Factory Fuel Injection Training Manual--Digifant; 1988 Edition
Title/Item: "Digifant I/DigifantII ProTraining" Vanagon Manual 1988, Digifant
Application: 1986-1991 Vanagon
Length: about 50 pages
Publisher: Volkswagen Factory
Intended For: Factory mechanics
Description: This is a really cool manual intended to train VW mechanics in
how to diagnose problems and repair fuel injection on Vanagons with 2.1
litre Vanagons with Digifant. This version of the manual is slightly later
and more up to date than the similar 1987 edition. But each has slightly
different information so I am glad to have both.
Recommendation: Highly Recommended.
Factory Fuel Injection Training Manual--Digifant; 1987 Edition
Title/Item: "Vanagon/Type II Fuel Systems; ProTraining" Manual 1987, Digifant
Application: 1986-1991 Vanagon
Length: 48
Publisher: Volkswagen Factory
Intended For: Factory mechanics
Description: This is a really cool manual intended to train VW mechanics in
how to diagnose problems and repair fuel injection on Vanagons with 2.1
litre Vanagons with Digifant. There is a later edition of this manual which
is more up to date and therefore might be better than this one. But each
has slightly different information so I am glad to have both.
Recommendation: Recommended.
Factory Price Book
Title/Item: "World-Wide Volkswagen Corp; Parts & Accessories; May 29, 1990"
Application: All VW & all Audi.
Length: About 240 pages
Publisher: Volkswagen Factory
Intended For: Internal use only; to be kept secret from the public.
Description: A list of the price to buy all parts sold by Volkswagen/Audi
arranged by part number. Given are the price the dealer has to pay for the
part and the suggested retail price he sells the part to you for.
Recommendation: You would want this book if you wanted a general guide to
the price of a Volkswagen part for which you already have the part number.
This book is dated 1990 so actual current prices will be higher than those
given in this book. If you have a "microfiche reader" you may be able to
bribe someone at a dealer to get a more recent version. This document is
secret and dealers won't give them out to the public because they don't
want to public to see their costs.
Factory Spray Wax Rustproofing Instructions
Title/Item: "Application Instructions; Cavity and Underbody Preservation"
Application: All Volkswagen
Length: 12 pages
Publisher: Volkswagen Factory
Intended For: Dealership personnel
Description: This is a 12 page booklet which describes how to apply wax
preservation material to the inner cavities of your Volkswagen. Pictures
are of a sedan but include pictures of factory parts and sprays that you
would use. Photocopy. This is an official factory booklet. Useful for some
of the part numbers.
Recommendation: Of only passing interest.
Factory Fuel Injection Training Manual--Digijet: 1987 Edition
Title/Item: "Vanagon/Type II Fuel Systems; ProTraining" Manual 1987, Digijet
Application: 1983-1985 Vanagon
Length: 48
Publisher: Volkswagen Factory
Intended For: Factory mechanics
Description: This is a really cool manual intended to train VW mechanics in
how to diagnose problems and repair fuel injection on Vanagons with 1.9
litre Vanagons with Digijet.
Recommendation: Highly recommended.
Factory Air-Cooled VW Van Fuel Injection Training Manual: 1987 Edition
Title/Item: "Vanagon/Type II Fuel Systems; ProTraining" Manual 1987, A.F.C.
Application: 1980-1982 Vanagon and all VW Bus with Fuel Injection
(1975-1979 bus)
Length: 48
Publisher: Volkswagen Factory
Intended For: Factory mechanics
Description: This is a really cool manual intended to train VW mechanics in
how to diagnose problems and repair fuel injection on air-cooled Busses and
Vanagons.
Recommendation: Highly recommended if you have one of these models.
Vanagon 83-95 Introductory Factory Repair Manual For Factory Trained
Technicians
Title/Item: "Water-Cooled Vanagon; Introductory Service Information"
Application: Vanagon 83-85 With 1.9 Litre Engine
Length: 45 pages
Description: This is a book that was issued to familiarize factory
mechanics with the new Vanagons introduced in the 1983 model year. It is
similar to the book "1986 Vanagon and Vanagon Syncro; Service Training"
except that it is for the 1.9 litre Digijet Vanagons instead of the 2.1
litre Digijet Vanagons. Covered are the enigine, librication system,
cooling system, fuel injection system, exhaust, ignition, transmission, and
special tools. See also the "Vanagon 83-95 Maintenance And Adjustments For
Factory Technicians" book which is a sister book to this one.
Recommendation: A very nice primer for owners of these vans. Recomended
even though much of the information is similar to that in Bentley.
Vanagon 83-95 Maintenance And Adjustments For Factory Technicians
Title/Item: "Water-Cooled Vanagon; Maintenance And Adjustments;
Introductory Service Information"
Application: Vanagon 83-85 With 1.9 Litre Engine
Length: 100 pages
Description: This is a sort of mini repair manual, just for the 83-85
Vanagons. Covered are the enigine, librication system, cooling system, fuel
injection system, exhaust, ignition, transmission, special tools and wiring
diagrams. See also the "Vanagon 83-95 Introductory Factory Repair Manual
For Factory Trained Technicians" book which is a sister book to this one.
These two tooks were issued back when the vans to which they apply were the
current models. This book was intended for factory trained technicians
working in Volkswagen dealerships.
Recommendation: Much of the information in this book is similar to that in
Bentley so this book may not be needed. On the other hand, it is nice to
have a repair manual dedicated to your car and having closeups of only your
systems.
Factory Paint & BodyShop Materials Manual
Title/Item: "Refinishing Guide" printed 2/87
Application: All Volkswagen
Length: 91 pages
Description: The four main sections of this manual are: Assessment of
Paintwork; Paints and Procedures, Material Technical Data and Chemicals and
Adhesives. Covered are structure of the metallic paintwork, corrosion
proection, factory chemical baths, assessment of corrosion damage,
assessment of paint defects, surface corrosion, edge/fold rust, rust
perforation/pitting, inadequate adhesion, overspray, etc,; PVC
applications, cavity wax soiling, analysis of paint zones, prepping and
painting, sanding, primers and sealers, painting plastic parts, spot repair
and blending, paint shop and equipment, spray guns, spray patterns;
technical data on various lines of VW paint; and chemical sprays and
adhesives, such as various waxes, zincs, libricants, and locking compounds,
all with part numbers.
Recommendation: This manual is highly recomended if you are interested in
the paint on your Volkswagen or in some of the special compounds and
substances VW sells for corrosion protection. It is very detailed and
colorful and contains information available nowhere else. Some copies of
this manual might still be lying around at your VW dealer. If so, you are
best off buying the manual there because it is chock full of color pictures
and the photocopy does not really do it justice.
Vanagon Factory Advisories, Mid-Early 1980s
Title/Item: Service Circulars, 1982-1985
Application: Earlier Vanagons
Length: 61 Pages
Description: These are advisories the factory issued to its dealers about
the air-cooled, Diesels, and 1983-1985 water-cooled Vanagons, although some
of this may apply to later Vanagons as well. Included are, Maintenance
Schedule and Predelivery Inspection sheets for the following vehicles:
Vanagon Diesels, 1983 vehicles, 1984 vehicles, and 1985 vehicles; Replace
Vanagon Coolant Pump; Suggested Repair Times for Vanagon Diesel (for
various repair operations); Fuel Filter Replacement Schedule 1985; 1985
Suggested Repair Times Vanagon SRT/PI Manual; Vanagon Water Cooled Engine
Training; Power Accessories Training Booklet; Vanagon Water-Cooled Dealer
Installed air Conditioning Instructions.
Recommendation: This set is for the true enthusiast only because none of
these Service Circulars contain a great deal of information. But it is nice
to see the Predelivery instructions for these vans because you can sort of
follow along and redo these just the way the factory envisioned a mechanic
would do them when the vehicle was new. I found the bulletin on dealer
installed air conditiong interesting as it had various part numbers dealers
would have to install to prepare for the conversion.
Factory "Driveability" Guide To Common Vanagon Problems & Fixes
Title/Item: "Solving Driveability Complaints; Service Information; Vanagon
With Digifant"
Application: Vanagon, 1986 and up
Length: 9
Description: This little gem of a book is one of the later items to be
published about common Vanagon problems and fixes. It covers various common
tests that you would conduct right away when presented with a problem:
check ignition system; install harness on volume air flow sensor; ignition
timing, idle speed, CO content, etc.
Recommendation: Highly recomended.
Cost To Borrow/Cost To Keep:
Factory "Driveability" Guide To Common Eurovan Problems & Fixes
Title/Item: "Solving Driveability Complaints; Service Information; Eurovan"
Application: Eurovan
Length: 11
Description: Eurovan problems and fixes. It covers various common tests
that you would conduct right away when presented with a problem: check
ignition system; Digifant checks, ignition timing, idle speed, CO content, etc.
Recommendation: Recomended.
Factory Vanagon 1367 Tester Manual
Title/Item: "Ignition Tester VW 1367; Operating Instructions"
Application: Most Vanagons; Many Other Volkswagens
Length: 55 pages
Description: This is the manual the VW factory issued to cover operation
and use of the official engine tester for the Vanagon, the 1367 tester.
This tester is too expensive for the casual do-it-yourselfer, but you can
find used ones. I paid $35 for mine at auction. Included with the manual is
an 8 page brochure describing the tester called "The Engine Tester." This
brochure is meant to entice dealers into feeling good about forking over
$1,200 to buy the 1367.
Recommendation: If you covet a 1367 tester, then you want this manual.
Factory Remanufactured Parts Circulars
Title/Item: Product Circulars On Remanufactured Parts
Application: All Vanagon
Length: 74
Description: This is a series of notices from the factory to dealers about
remanufactuerd parts. It tells them how to package items for return to VW
for rebuilding. It also has part numbers for these parts, including:
engines, diesels, water pumps, cylinder head, transmissions, flywheel, oil
cooler, injection pump, pressure plate, vacume pump, crankshaft, steering
racks, power steeering, brakes, drive shafts, alternators, starters, etc.
Recommendation: These pages are disappointingly scanty in terms of the
amount of information provided per page. It is nice to have a catalog of
parts that you can buy remanufactured, though.
Factory Cruise Control Workbook (late model)
Title/Item: "Volkswagen Cruise Control; In-Dealership Training; Leader's Guide"
Application: All Volkswagen with Cruise Control; e.g.; 1988 and up Vanagon"
Length: 17 pages
Description: A workbook that the mechanics in a dealership use to train
themselves in the operation and repair of the cruise control system. This
booklet is thin as far as content goes.
Recommendation: Not a goldmine of information.
Cost To Borrow/Cost To Keep:
Factory Multimeter Workbook
Title/Item: "Tips On How to Use A Multimeter; In-Dealership Training;
Leader's Guide"
Application: All cars.
Length: 22
Description: A workbook that mechanics in a dealership use to train
themselves in the operation of a multimeter with Volkswagen vehicles.
Covered are such things as voltage check, drop voltage check, amperage
check, milliamp check, and a series of pictures showing various connection
methods. By the way, the official VW multimeter is Fluke Model 83, or the
same model jazzed up for automotive use, Model 88.
Recommendation: The subject is worth reviewing although the material in
this guide is not new. This guide is a little thin in the content area.
Factory Cruise Control Manual (1978)
Title/Item: "Electronic Auto-Cruise, For Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen; Shop
Service Manual" published 1978
Application: uncertain; appears to be for 1970s era vehicles
Length: 10
Description: early cruise control manual
Recommendation: up to you
_______________________________________________
Derek Drew New York, NY
CEO & Co-Founder
www.ConsumerSearch.com
80 South Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10038
derekdrew@consumersearch.com
drew@interport.net
212-580-6486
Alternate numbers for the industrious phone caller that wants to try every
avenue: 917-848-6425 (cell); 202-966-7907 (Work), 212-580-4459 (Home),
202-966-0938 (Home).
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