Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 10:18:55 -0700
Reply-To: Coby Smolens <cobys5@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Coby Smolens <cobys5@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: A newbie has a question...
In-Reply-To: <013901c13e3d$a786efd0$a9c8f7a5@sal7s0ev04u9qa>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
The 'quirky' electrical problems sound unrelated and coincidental to each
other - but that's not your main concern.
First thing is the cooling system - you may have a simple leak somewhere
which resulted in overheating. Does the engine still run? A blown reservoir
is not necessarily a blown engine. It's possible that the problem is just
the coolant reservoir - they get old and crack and maybe it just came apart.
The light in the temperature gauge is supposed to come on when you turn the
key to the "on" position - it should blink for a few seconds, then go out.
If the gauge is going right to "hot" immediately on starting either there's
a problem with the warning system or there's not enough coolant in the main
reservoir (the one in the engine compartment, not the one behind the license
plate). Of course, you have to check the coolant level in this main
reservoir first thing, and if it's split open you'll have to replace it
before you can check anything. Fortunately this procedure is inexpensive and
simple - after replacing the reservoir you (or your mechanic) will need to
follow the procedure for bleeding the cooling system, well documented on
this list and in the Bentley repair manual. After you've got the system full
again you can have it pressure tested for leaks and checked for the presence
of hydrocarbon (exhaust gases). You might want to fill it with plain water
until you see if there are any leaks - the VW coolant (available from the
dealer) is relatively expensive and it would be a shame to waste it.
The mileage is high, for an engine - not for the van. If it's the original
engine and has never been apart, it's one of the rare ones. We've seen a few
like this, and I can't tell you why some hold together when most of their
mates are defunct or have submitted to multiple surgeries at this age...
Coby Smolens
Valley Wagonworks
VW Bus and Vanagon Specialists
"Intimately acquainted with VW Vans since 1959"
1535 SF Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-457-5628
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf Of
Sal & Karen Tricomo
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2001 4:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: A newbie has a question...
Hi all...I am the sentimental owner of a recently "deceased" '85 Westfalia
(Westy, I gather from previous msgs) that I had named "Buster
Brown"...Buster bcuz he was always in trouble (mechanically falling apart
but I wasn't able to afford continuous maintenence) & Brown for obvious
reasons (gawd, I hated that color!).
Anyway, my problem is that I'm too sentimental to give him away to charity
but I really don't have any use for him now. For different reasons, my
husband & I are just not able to use the van for camping purposes anymore &
his usefulness for commuting ended with a blown reservoir next to the
back-end water-filling tank. As you can see, I know little to nothing about
car terms...
What am I going to do? I read w/interest the msg about how many miles one
can expect to get out of one of these & I must admit Buster is over the
200,000 mark easily...(after I nearly fainted when I saw that 142 msgs were
waiting for me...anyway to decrease some of that? I just came into this to
ask my little questions...).
Some of the problems I've had over the years related to the O2 sensor but
the strangest concerned what would happen to Buster's personality when I
would use the defroster (or heater) for the 1st time each winter. First it
was the O2 lite going on, but after being frustrated w/know-nothing
"generic" mechanics I took Buster to a VW specialist & he knew what was
going on in an instant, fixed it & I thought the problem was solved.
Another time, the speedometer would bounce around like the dial on a
vegetable scale (that was after using the cigarette lighter to power
something off the battery). In short, it was always doing wierd, quirky
things.
Most recently, the heat sensor started to go on the minute I started the
car (but it again, it was right after I'd used the defroster for the 1st
time on a particularly cold & rainy/foggy morning) so I ignored the problem.
This light matched the temp gauge (in the "too too hot" range) only at the
initial startup of the car, and the problem would stop once the car had been
running awhile...So I again ignored it. I never heard anything wierd in the
engine, nor felt the car struggling to operate in any way, right up until
the time I saw steam pouring out of the back end & heard that little
reservoir blow apart. Thank God I didn't have the back end opened or the
engine cover off when it blew!
I really can't afford the complete overhaul it would take to get Buster
operational again, and I really won't be using him for camping any more (my
husband's a weenie for modern comforts & really doesn't enjoy the outdoorsy
life, and I'm too convenience-oriented to go thru that much work in a quirky
vehicle...I didn't use to be). Im now using my hubby's car to commute with
(he's got a nice new one) so I won't need Buster for that either. Problem
is, I get all choked up thinking he's just going to rot away somewhere he's
towed to if I sit still and do nothing...
Can any of you help me by suggesting inexpensive repair options, or maybe
someone would want to buy him off me for parts or restoration? My original
idea was to donate him to a worthy cause of my choosing so it wouldn't be a
complete waste or junking issue, but I still can't help but feel that there
may be some hope for him yet.
Any thoughts?
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