I cannot think of everything, but based on my years with my own Vanagon, plus the rest of the list, we can come up with a comprehensive list. After all, we must have at least a half million years experience combined!!! Here goes my contribution ____ Coolant leaks, especially at heads, beneath engine and at water pump ____ Lifter noise not present when running, or after running. ____ Rust free at seams
____ Check all hoses that carry coolant, bend the small hoses, check for cracks.
____ Exhaust system intact, muffler free of leaks, rust, no leaks at all gasket sites. ____ Muffler mounting bracket intact, muffler straps intact. ____ Check tyres for signs of steering suspension wear. ____ Valve covers free of oil leaks ____ (Auto trans) Transmission free of leaks. Fluid is at proper level, red in colour, no "burnt smell" of fluid. Check carefully between the to transmission and final drive. The final drive is full of gear oil and the two chambers should never communicate fluid. Check for fluid leaks at torque converter. ____ Run a "CarFax" to be sure the Vanagon has never been a salvage. ____ Check Fuel lines, especially in engine box. The fuel line comes through the fire wall, to a pressure regulator, then bifurcates to the fuel rails. They are subject to breakdown and pose a risk to fire (been there, done that). Of course there is more, I just thought back over the past 12 years I had my Vanagon, and recalled the "times it could no longer move under its own power." Tim 1990 Vanagon GL Barnegat, New Jersey, where we drive on parkways and park on driveways!!!! (except on weekends, we park on parkways then too) |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.