Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 21:36:29 -0400
Reply-To: Walt Spak <wnsopc3@3RDM.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Walt Spak <wnsopc3@3RDM.NET>
Subject: Yesterday's visit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear Vanagon List,
I wrote an earlier post about tires and at the end mentioned my trip to MD
yesterday to pick up a Westy. I got interrupted while writing and when I
went back to the keyboard I forgot to mention a few things.
I was very impressed with Karl Mullendore and his shop. Karl obviously has
as much Vanagon experience as anyone I have ever seen. I am thinking about
moving to Asheville NC in 2 or 3 years. Karl told me he is thinking about
the same move. I would sure like to see him make it, because I would sure
use him for Vanagon service. I think he would make a great friend too.
I drove the 86 Westy all the way from MD to Pittsburgh and it ran like a
top.
Walt Spak
Pittsburgh, PA.
wnsopc3@3rdm.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom and Dana Cates <dcates1@HOME.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 7:33 PM
Subject: Re: New Engine Oil Leak
> Peter,
>
> If you are lucky, Karl Mullendore (thewestyman@mindspring.com) will accept
> your case. You can trust him implicitly.
>
> I have an AVP air-cooled rebuild in mine, 20K so far and no leaks. But, I
> did send them my flexplate along with the core and they did the
> installation. Any scoring on the seal area of the flywheel will cause
almost
> immediate failure of the seal.
>
> I think that you might find the answer to your question within the text of
> your email.
>
> Tom and Dana Cates
> Asheville, NC
> 83 Air-Cooled Westfalia, 'Hammurabi'
> Member: http://www.fullmoonbusclub.com/ "Home of the World Famous
Breakfast
> Burritos"
> http://www.type2.com/rescue/
> http://members.home.net/fullmooninjoon/index.htm
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Krogh" <VW85Westy@AOL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 11:51 AM
> Subject: New Engine Oil Leak
>
>
> > Hey List,
> > Please cc any response to Kroghphoto@aol.com, as I don't get to this
> email address too often.
> >
> > I have replaced Zippy's old engine (at 190,000) with a new AVP
rebuild.
> I
> > had the 2.1 crank installed, and I have to say I like the power
> increase.
> > It's not a Ferrarri, just a slightly faster Vanagon.
> >
> > I have a problem, however, and I seem to be in the middle here. I
> noticed
> > an oil leak from the area between the tranny and the engine at less
than
> 300
> > miles. The shop that did the work said that it was a leaky front
engine
> > seal, certainly caused by defective parts or work by AVP. AVP says
that
> it
> > is most likely from poor flywheel installation.
> >
> > The shop charged me $95 for the flywheel, and I thought they said
> something
> > about having gotten a deal on it somewhere. After the leak, they told
> me
> > more specifically that it had come from a VW reman that was ordered
for
> a
> > customer, and that the flywheel was removed when he switched from
Manual
> to
> > Auto trans.
> >
> > AVP will only honor warrantee if the seal is not scored or "burned
> looking"
> > as this would indicate improper flywheel installation. Additionally,
> they
> > said that they will pay for 3.5 hours labor for the work, and my
garage
> said
> > that is a 5 hour job. AVP will only pay $40 an hour (which I knew
when
> I
> > bought the engine). So that's $140 on a $280 repair.
> >
> >
> > The installer is a shop in Maryland that does a *lot* of Vanagon work.
> > Judging by the parking lot that may be half their business. They
seemed
> to
> > know all the little quirkiness of a Vanagon, and said that they had
done
> > hundreds of engine replacements.
> >
> > They did a pretty nice job overall, although slow. I put no pressure
on
> > them to do it quickly, just friendly weekly calls on the status. There
> were
> > two
> > problems with the installation besides the leak.
> >
> > The first was that the motor quit within the first 12 miles of
driving.
> > They said that turned out to be a loose wire on some FI control that
was
> > flooding
> > it out. The odometer indicated that they had test driven it for about
> 36
> > miles. Fixed for free.
> >
> > The second is a temperture fluctuation that was greater than my old
> engine.
> > Idling quickly raises the temperture until the fan clicks on,
whereupon
> it
> > stabilises at slightly warm. At 1000 miles I asked that to bleed the
> > system, which they said they did. Within a few miles the heat problem
> > returned.
> > Upon inspection, I saw a missing hose clamp on the hose from the
> expansion
> > tank to the fill tank. Also, the bleeder valve in the engine
> compartment
> > was left open. This made me nervous about rushed/shoddy work.
> >
> > Questions:
> > 1. Any insight on what is most likely to have caused the seal to
fail?
> >
> > 2. Does the "book" indicate that dropping the tranny and replacing
the
> seal
> > is only a 3.5 hour job? AVP stated at time of purchase that the
> > reimbursement was based on a published time schedule for repairs.
> >
> > 3. Should I try to be there when they do the work to check out what
> caused
> > it (they have said that I can wait)
> >
> > 4. Does temperture fluctuation indicate air in the cooling system?
> Should I
> > insist on a full Bently-style bleed?
> >
> > Thanks for all your help.
> > Peter & Zippy (now Zippier!)
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