Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 09:17:27 -0700
Reply-To: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@yahoo.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: is your Vanagon your main/only vehicle?
In-Reply-To: <00f501c0d960$2c43c2e0$4a580440@Pangea.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Roy and others,
Sorry to hear that you've had so much trouble with
your Westy. We had some friends with similar problems
with their '87 transporter and they ended up in
arbitration with VW and getting paid back for what
I have since figured was the highway speed hesitation
problem that VW and us home mechanics have fixed with
either the $100 harness from VW or a $2.00 cap. fix.
Too bad, it was a really nice van too.
I, myself, bought a '91 Westy on May 31, 1991 and
have enjoyed driving it regularly (mostly to/from
work). This last year I started having coolant leak
problems at 135K miles and battery/starter problems
and now it stalls somewhere between cold and fully
warmed up. I have to baby the clutch and ease the
accelorator on to avoid a stall at intersections.
But before that the only problems I had were the
AC not working because of a failed resistor pack.
A bad idle valve... Trouble with getting the
hose from throttle valve to the air cleaner connected
right. One flat tire. Westfalia letters peeling off.
Oh! And I replaced the brake master cylinder... What
a messy job!! Cruise control works when it feels like
it. Mostly when the weather warms up...
I can't think of anything else, but there might be
a couple minor things. Head Gaskets don't leak yet
but I think the distribution stack does...
That van has given me more driving pleasure than any
other although I can't complain about my wifes '86
Nissan Sentra. It has been great over the years.
This list really helped when the hesitation problem
reared it's ugly head.
I just recently purchased an '86 Transporter that has
many signs of neglect. The speedometer doesn't work
Replaced gas lines on the tank. Distribution stack
had a leak and I had the auto. tranny crap out on
me. That last one really hurt. $1322.00 to drive
it away repaired again. What else...? I got some
help from JonR replacing the CV's and boots one cold
New Hampshire day. That was interesting and fun.
Some day we'll do the other side....
I need to fix the heater lever connection to heater
switch. Still blowing hot air like a big dog. I
found
out why this was done. The radiator fan wasn't
working
when the temp. went up. Part of the problem was a
missing 30 amp fuse which I currently am borrowing
from
my '91 Westy. I haven't heard the higher fan speed
come on yet and I think that's because it probably
needs a new resistor....
And the list goes on for "Problem Child".... Oh
well... I needed a winter thrasher and I sure
got one... :)
Steven
'91 Westy
'86 Transporter
--- Roy Olynick <keepsake@pangea.ca> wrote:
> I bought a brand new '87 Westy to be used as a my
> family's second vehicle. I
> believe in preventative maintenance and addressing
> problems early before they
> get worse. Since the WW (Westy Warranty) expired in
> 1989, I have more than paid
> for the vehicle, in repairs and parts. There has
> only been one year since
> purchasing the vehicle in which it hasn't been towed
> (at least once) due to some
> kind of mechanical breakdown.
>
> Sorry Volks, I threw away my rose coloured VW
> glasses years ago.
>
> Roy Olynick
> '87 Westfalia GL
> (till death do us part)
> '91 Honda Civic SE
> '01 Honda Civic LX
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