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)
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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