Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 22:30:40 -0600
Reply-To: Jon B Kanas <kanas@QUALITY.QADAS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jon B Kanas <kanas@QUALITY.QADAS.COM>
Subject: Syncro Stuck in ditch!!!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Good Evening Listers,
Last weekend we took the Syncro up elevenmile
canyon to look at a cabin we considering
purchasing. Access to the cabin is via mild 4WD
trail, with a ditch between the trail and cabin
driveway. Most level position (sleeping and
access to sliding door) was obtained by backing
into the driveway. I managed to drop the LR wheel
into the ditch, and began spinning on the
decomposing granite gravel. The 4WD on the Syncro
did not engage, so here I sit, stuck at the bottom
of the driveway spinning the LR wheel. I was
easily able to pull out forward, an approximately
equally steep climb. It appeared as if the Syncro
would not engage, but only in reverse. After a
few minutes walking about, assessing the
situation, I remembered the differential lock;
engaged it and was able to back up the driveway
uneventfully. When departing, I deliberately
stopped while coming down an extremely steep hill
on the same type of loose surface, and attempted
to back up the hill to see if I could duplicate
the earlier symptoms. Nope, just backed right up
the hill.
The return trip involved a 30 mile ride on another
mild 4WD road, and everything worked flawlessly.
We encountered a tourist in an SUV who flagged us
down to tell us we could not possibly get "that
van" through where he had just been. Little did
he know that the worst of the road (by far) was
already behind us, and waiting for his arrival J.
It's always interesting to observe the reactions
of people when they see out camper way back in the
high country.
Anyway… my point and question: Do any of the
Syncro technical wizards out there have any
suggestions as to why I got stuck, specifically
why the 4WD did not engage? The Viscous Coupling
is supposed to work in reverse, correct, or will
it only initially engage in the forward gears? I
believe that the syncro is working properly; when
the Vanagon was put on the dynamometer for the
Colorado emissions test, the front wheels are used
to drive the dyno for all-wheel-drive type
vehicles. On very hot days, if I drive for an
extended period, they syncro wants to engage
prematurely on tight turns (parallel parking,
etc.). As soon as it cools down, the symptoms of
premature engagement cease.
Please reply to me personally as well as to the
list; I don't always make through all the
postings. Thanks in advance for your comments and
assistance.
Regards to all,
--
Jon B Kanas
Boulder County Colorado:
194249 sq Hectares surrounded by reality.
Working hard to keep it this way
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