Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2002 10:05:39 -0800
Reply-To: developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Introductions and electrical questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I recently bought an 89 also. Everything I list below I learned from others
on this list. I was very naive when I began (and still feel so at times.)
Here is my advice which I learned from many on this list.
Keep a written maintenance log book &/or computer record on all your repairs
and improvements and list what was done, when, parts numbers and cost.
Clean all your electrical connections and grounds.
Replace your tranny gear oil with Red Line Synthetic oil.
Put new oil in with one quart of it being Marvel Mystery oil and run it for
300 miles. Change your oil and filter and capture the old oil in a clean
container. Switch to Mobil One synthetic oil or other synthetic like Red
Line. Use Stan Wilder's diagnosis method and let the old oil settle
overnight then drain all but the last 1/2 cup of dregs into another
container. Mix that 1/2 cup with 1/2 cup of gasoline and pour through a
white coffee filter to see if you have any "stuff" that came out. Cross your
fingers.
Consider the Trasko oil filter set up:
http://trasko-usa.com/
Some people poo poo it but I like the statistics.
The cooling fan should not come on unless you are stuck in traffic and the
engine heats up or you have the AC on.
The electronic tune? I like the reminder that the keys are left in the
ignition or to remind me to buckle up. Many list members do not and take it
off. The previous owner probably took out the "seat belt warning module."
You'll need to find one, or live without it. Don't buy it at a dealer for
$80 but ask the list again. Someone gave me one for free on the list and all
I did was pay postage. Its location is above the fuse panel and difficult to
see unless you take the panel off.
Check the archives regarding tires. You need sidewalls reinforced with at
lest 2 ply. My previous owner put the wrong tires on mine. Bummer in a heavy
cross wind.
Get your alignment checked ($60?)
Check everywhere for coolant leaks. A common leak area is the lower right
coolant flange. Easy to fix ($40 extra at the VW dealer I used when I hired
out the front springs replaced.)
Check your upper and lower ball joints. While doing the front springs I
replaced the upper ball joints. Both had ruptured boots. This is a common
failure.
Get into the habit of checking your engine and putting it up on ramps and
looking underneath for loose nuts and bolts. I found the upper starter nut
missing off the hex bolt.
Check your clutch cylinder bolts to be sure they are on and tight. Mine were
loose and it popped off. Had to have it towed.
Check your engine and tranny ground strap. Engine strap is under the AC
compressor and goes to the body. Tranny strap is underneath.
A new distributor cap and rotor will do wonders.
A MUST is the capacitor fix to fix the intermittent vanagon syndrome. Easy
to do. For instructions go to:
http://www.geocities.com/harald_nancy/intermitt._syndrome.htm.
Consider new 3 prong or quad plugs.
Consider a K & N air filter. Costs the same but is reusable and works
better.
Buy some "303 Aerospace Protectant" and apply every month to the dash, all
vinyl, rubber trim and tires.
If you replace your windshield wipers buy Bosch "oversized" and put 19" on
passenger side and 20" on driver side. Rear window size must remain the
same.
Look at the luggage rack that Gary Lee sells
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/vanagonrack.htm
If you have no data about CV joint service recently this is a critical thing
to do or have done. If you do it or have it hired out use Red Line CV
grease. It is superior to the other brands.
If you are interested you can see my maintenance page at:
http://members.cox.net/holisticdream/maintenancelog.htm
You can see my van photos at:
http://members.cox.net/holisticdream/vaninterior.htm
I made some additional improvements that I highly recommend.
Got to a junk yard and find a door pocket for the passenger side. Position
it WITH THE GLOVE BOX OPEN before you attach it.
Put shims on top of driver side rear spring to compensate for sag to the
left due to camper equipment. Very easy to do.
Power radio antenna.
Passenger side dome light.
Above kitchen area "Thin Lites." Placed old light over engine area which is
a blessing at night when going to see or service the engine.
(http://www.windsun.com/Misc_AE/Thin-Lite.htm).
I also placed a battery operated "tent light" over rail above the sliding
door ($10 at Target.)
Replace springs with springs sold by steve@syncro.org ($400 and worth every
penny.) If you do, put a 1/2 inches of rubber shims on top of the driver
side spring if you have a sag to the left there. Measurements from the top
of the fender to the middle of the wheel cap should be about 17 & 1/4 inches
on all wheels. If you are not a perfectionist and can live with the springs
the way they are, many do just that.
Consider Air Lift air bags inside your rear springs if you carry heavy loads
or if you have a trailer hitch to haul a raft or such.
http://members.cox.net/holisticdream/airlift.htm
That's al I can think of for now. Others on this list are much more
experienced than I am so keep tuning in. A few people have a warped sense of
humor so be prepared.
William
Vanagon site http://members.home.net/holisticdream/vanagon1989.htm
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeremy Speer" <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 7:09 AM
Subject: Introductions and electrical questions
> Greetings all,
>
> I'm new to the list and thought i'd introduce myself...before i started
> asking questions.
>
> My name is Jeremy, originally from Brooklyn, NY, currently living in
> Minneapolis, MN. Very recently, this past weekend, i became the new
> owner of a '89 Westy. Bought it in St. Louis and drove it up....right
> through that storm that was attributed to 20 deaths in Michigan. I
> survived, but almost rolled the van in Iowa due to icy roads and 35mph
> crosswinds.
>
> Mechanically the vehicle seems great. 147,000 miles. Rebuilt engine and
> factory new transmission at 115,000. New (not rebuilt) heads at 130,000.
> Wet compression showed 125psi at all four.
>
> I've already placed orders at GoWesty.com and BusDepot.com for numerous
> interior parts and doo dads... i'm slowly getting into the swing of
> ownership.
>
> I'm hoping at least some of this is relay related... and will be a
> simple fix. First, i notice the radio is not being powered when the
> ignition is off... it forgets its presets and everything. Next, the
> engine cooling fan does not come on at all despite the PO recently
> replacing the thermo switch. The cruise control is dead too, but the
> vacuum pump seems fine. Finally, the little electronic tune that plays
> in my buddy's '86 when you start it up does not play in mine.
>
> I guess i'm looking for suggestions on where to begin and what to look
> for.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> -jspeer
>
> '89 Westy, yet-to-be-named
