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Date:         Tue, 11 Jul 2000 11:59:45 -0700
Reply-To:     PSavage <psavage@saber.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         PSavage <psavage@saber.net>
Subject:      '85 Westy/New Member /Troubleshooting Needed
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Greetings from a new member!

I bought an '85 Westy/Wolf last fall---a month before heading for Mexico. It's my third Westy. The first two I also bought used; one an early 60's, the other a '69. I loved them both, despite the latter's blown engine in Mexico in ''74, with only my five year old son riding shotgun. I normally learn from mistakes; but VW's are a lot like childbirth--- one tends to forget the suffering... This one's a beauty; her previous (1)owner kept her garaged. Tho she had 194K miles total & 20K miles on the rebuild, she'd had TLC. Not so much as a curtain hook missing. The original bronze paint is excellent. All the rubber seals look fresh. I had her gone over thoroughly; the only trouble she gave, along with wild surging at idle, was a "cutting out problem". I had the fuel filter replaced, then my (previous) mechanic installed a new "air box," which seemed to take care of the problem for a few months. When it started up again, I thought it might be the Pemex gas. She's still surging at idle speed, and requires fancy footwork to move forward from a stop without stalling. One garage told me it was a bad computer part--- there are two possibilities, I am told. I was advised to replace the cheaper of the two first, then the other if the first doesn't fix the problem. I drove her around for a month or so when I got her, then headed alone to Mexico for the winter. I put another 15K miles on her---without so much as a flat tire! She's got the Weekend package, which as far as I am concerned is just what you need for serious, long-term van travel. Those cute little built it stoves are OK if you do all your camping in your brother-in-laws driveway. But if you really get out there and spend time in the "wilds" you'll come to appreciate the other set-up. Heck, I love toting my little propane stove to the water's edge to grill a fresh-caught fish, or savor my morning coffeemaking routine at cliff's edge . NOW: Advice is needed. Keep in mind that while I'm a remarkably capable and adventurous woman, I'm "mechanically challenged". While I have learned to load a staplegun, I still break into a cold sweat just looking under the hood. Any advice you offer, except for body detailing, which I am happy to do, must be communicated by me to a VW guru. OK?

1. Do you agree that the wild surging at idle is caused a bad computer part? 2. I've been told the air filter housing is warped. When the filter was replaced recently I noticed she stalled more readily at idle, and the guy who helped me really had to wrestle the housing back together. 3. The paint is still excellent, but there are lots of little dings from the Mexico adventure. How can they be fixed cosmetically and stop the rust? 4. I need a Vanagan Guru; Ukiah, Santa Rosa, Berkeley, CA---anywhere in the North Bay Area will do.

Please help me. I shall be most grateful! Phaedra


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