Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 19:42:48 -0700
Reply-To: John Silverman <jsilver@AROS.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Silverman <jsilver@AROS.NET>
Subject: Trip report (Lake Tahoe/Napa Valley) Tiico issues (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Well, back safe and sound from a wonderful vacation wining and dining,
cycling, and exploring the aforementioned parts of California.
The van (90 syncro westy) had just finished it's 600 mile break in period
from it's BRAND NEW Tiico engine (I4, 2 litre) installed locally by a
mechanic. Also, had new OME shocks and Syncro springs a la Schwenk. What
great improvements!!!!
We left Salt Lake City Friday AM (the 26th) after I got home from a
midnight shift, The wife drove. She'd been skeptical about the Tiico,
especially the cost. She noticed and appreciated the power increase-ie not
subtle increases. She didn't love the rough idle and increased vibration
and noise. Got to Reno about 7.5 hrs later, in time for a buffet dinner,
then headed on to Tahoe area that eve. Drove up via 395 (near Carson City,
and Mt Rose) a steep pass. The Tiico had good power, and could even
accelerate uphill, when downshifted appropriately.
Noticed some fan belt noise, so the next day, after a beautiful and windy
run/hike up Mt Rose, looked at the belts. The alternator belt was loose.
Not only, but the bolt holding the (new) alternator bracket to the engine
had come loose. Off to the local True Value, replacement bolts, and away
we go.
Next AM, no start. Lights, radio all work, but not enough juice for the
starter. Jump start from friendly passerby, and a beautiful bike ride from
Meeks Bay (west shore) to Falling Leaf Lake (almost South Lake Tahoe). No
further probs that day. But per the wife--off to the nearest Wal Mart that
eve for a battery check. Down towards the Napa, via rt 50, a beautiful,
very long descent out of the mts. Stop in Folsom at the closest Wal
Mart. Battery checks out OK, alternator loose again! This time, it's the
lower alternator bolt, and of course, at 7PM on Sunday, no place to get
one. Dinner, WalMart parking lot campground. Next AM, to the local
Kragen, where the manager is ever so helpful in finding the closest to
correct size bolt, and checking the alternator again. Still not great
charging. One of the "field grounds" (whatever that is- it's a blue loose
wire that plugs into back of the alternator) was loose. new connector, and
we're running gangbusters.
So off to Napa Valley. five days of beautiful scenery, amazing food and
drink, great bike riding, and stealth camping all over the valley. What a
beautiful and fun (though costly) area. Felt very European. No van
troubles whatsoever.
Friday eve, back to Tahoe via 80, and camping just uphill from
Northstar. Another day to explore Tahoe and end up in Reno that
night. Again, a little fan belt whine. Now, The alternator bracket itself
had begun to fail. Figured we'd make it as far as we could that eve. and
drove through the empty desert to Winemucca, Nevada. Checked the bracket,
and it had busted completely through, right at the adjusting nut. All the
"on-call" mechanics wanted to charge big bucks for a call out
service. There were a bunch of kids in the truck stop parking lot, hangin
out around all their older cars and trucks. Obviously, some of these kids
could weld!! Well, they were excited for something to do, so one of them
went home, brought the truck w/ the portable welder, and the part was good
as new!! Made it back to Salt Lake the next AM w/ no troubles, and the
welded area looks great.
Interesting aside: while stopped at that truck stop, a full size diesel
pickup came through, towing a vanagon. Turns out the fellow had bought an
older (I think he said 84) vanagon w/ only 33k on the clock, in
Chicago. He was moving to Santa Cruz. He's a mechanic, and was about to
do an I4 swap into a different van, but found this van instead.
All in all, a great trip. Other than the alternator episodes, a wonderful
improvement in speed and power. And the suspension upgrades were also well
worth it!!
John
SLC
90 syncro westy, Tiico powered
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