Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2000 22:51:36 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: Download Technicial Bulletin Blues
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Phaedra,
I have learned the hard way, that the way you tackle a problem with a
Vanagon is 1) find all you can about the problem on this list, 2) next
ask the membership, 3) study the Bentley and the Haynes manuals, 4) ask
the list membership again, 5) Ask Ken at Vanagin.com, Ron at Bus Depot,
and Bob Donalds of Boston Engine, 6) Ask Robert Lilley, 7) .
Once you have gone through all your resources, you will probably have a
good idea as to what is going on and what the problem is. THEN take your
van to the mechanic and tell him about the system involved, the
peculiarities of the vanagon, and what approach you think should be
taken as to how to fix the problem. After that, give the man some space
to do his job, but keep a weather eye out to be sure he doesn't screw
something up......like drive a bolt into place with a BFH when a slight
tap with an 8 oz ball peen hammer is all thats called for. . This puts
you and him there together to solve and fix the problem.
Some guys, once the problem is discussed thoroughly, can be turned loose
on the job and it will get done. Others just aren't that competent on
vanagons, or van based vehicles, and can screw up things bad in a
second.
So basically, you figure it out, then tell the mechanic what you think
and why, then keep an eye pealed while he does the work.
Should get the job done.
Luck,
John Rodgers
88GL Driver
BTW, if you don't know what a BFH is, ask your mechanic. Every good
mechanic has one in his tool box and knows exactly when, where and how
to use it.
PSavage wrote:
> Big Thanks!
> To all who contributed so generously to my request
> for help putting together a coolant parts order.
> I know a great deal more than I did when I began!
> XOXOXOXO
>
> I had planned to approach preventative maintenance
> "system by system", using an agressive, preemptive approach.
> I hoped to stay ahead of the game, learning in advance
> the pitfalls & solutions for typical Vanagon problems already
> successfully used by this List.
>
> This A.M. I left to drive my van to a nearby town,
> an hour's drive, for a scheduled maintenance appointment.
> More than a dozen times in the hour's drive my van not only
> "cut out," as she has been occassionally known to do, but
> didn't want to restart. When she did turn over, she stalled
> as soon as I tried to drive. Finally, I ended up blocking a
> parking lot.
> At least this time there were no orange cones involved!
>
> AAA towed me back to Berhhard's Autobahn. When I left
> the repair shop, Bernhard was hunched over his new computer,
> madly downloading technical bulletins for '85 Vanagons.
> He doesn't seem pleased. I don't think he's got a clue.
> I'm to call tomorrow 3 PM for his report.
>
> Oh misery!
> Phaedra
| 
