Date:         Fri, 6 Jul 2001 06:59:58 -0700
Reply-To:     PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Subject:      System Failure: What Next?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My '85, with 227,000 original miles & 50,000 on the
rebuilt engine (done at 175,000 miles) had one previous
PO.  When I bought the van nearly two years ago, the PO
had died & except for being told about the rebuild, I inherited
*no records.

The van is so clean, inside & out, with great original paint,
that non-Vanagon folks can't believe it's seventeen years old.
I love my mysterious PO, who lovingly cared for this beauty
for so long.  But I wish I could channel the PO!

Since I bought my '85 I have adopted a premtive approach
to maintenance:  swapping things as appropriate in attempt
to avoid disaster south of the border, where I travel every
winter for 4-5 months.

I am especially concerned about my *tranny, as I have no
idea if/when it's been rebuilt, tho it's operating fine now.
I have fears of water pump failure on the road, since it's
not a simple thing to swap.  The fuel pump doesn't scare
me, since it's easy.

With 50,000 miles on my rebuild, I hope my heads won't
start leaking next winter in Mexico.  Is there a rule of thumb
re when to look for heads to leak?  I had the coolant flushed
last summer & used Autobahn.  I feel it's safe to assume my
PO used correct coolant before that.  I carry Bars Leak in
my travel kit.

If the tranny starts to go bad, what are the symptoms?
Do trannys go bad slowly?  I've got a manual tranny.

Feedback, please!
Phaedra
'85  Westy 4-speed