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Date:         Mon, 16 Sep 2002 00:39:28 EDT
Reply-To:     KimBrennan@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <KimBrennan@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re:       Help with diagnosis 
              (please)
Comments: To: clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

In a message dated 9/15/02 7:32:16 PM, clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM writes:

> > I would like some help, but the symptons are a confusing on ''88 Syncro 2.1 > DJ with supposedly 55,000 miles on rebuilt engine. > > Several things happening. > > After vans longest run for a while (only 50-60 miles)... temperature gauge > middling, ran OK until > a vibration at 60-65 mph getting worse, to the point that rear-view mirror > blurrs, not throught the steering so could it be a rear driveshaft > (propshaft has been removed). > > ... then pulling off a motorway and going around a sharp uphill bendy bit, > the oil light starts flashing and the buzzer comes on. > lifted off and stopped within a couple of hundred yards, turned off. Upon > re-starting on level ground, the starter had  ahell of a job turning motor > over, as if its hydraulic locked. However, once it got a piston over TDC , > it spun and started, no oil light no nasty noises, and idled OK. Turned off > and restarted with exact same starting difficulty, so cruised off home (2 > miles) - ran fine. > > When parked up noticed oil dripping from underframe beneath exhaust cross > pipe at front(ish) of engine and some more hot oil that was forward of the > driveshafts alongside transaxle. The enderframe that was really quite > covered is the front and wider cross-member of the two on the syncro with 3 > or 4 holes pressed into it. Like a drip, drip, which slowed down > considerably in 5 minutes. > > Dipped oil after an hour and it was 1/4 way up from MIN, towards max. on > reasonably level surface. > Also, engine runs fine, no light etc BUT quite a grumbling noise (from > pilot bearing, 1st motion shaft of gearbox) which disappears when clutch is > down - this noise was there before but not so loud and so dry sounding. > > Maybe some of these events are not related, but would appreciate some > feedback, without me prejudicing what I think the hell is going on, > whatever it is, it didn't exactly leave me in a good frame of mind this > evening. > >

Well, Clive, you say the "prop-shaft" has been removed? You mean the portion between the rear transmission and the front? Otherwise, I'd say your symptoms are indictitive of needing a rebuild/replacement on that shaft. The Vibration at 60-65, I've experienced. I also recall the dry sound (when it wasn't deadened by all the other sounds) at low speeds. When I finally took mine in for service, the U-joints were rusted solid (according to the dealer). I paid the price and my GoldBrick continues on the road now vibration and noise free.


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