Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 18:08:30 -0700
Reply-To: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject: Re: Intake noise (or: Woohoo! No more drone!)
In-Reply-To: <3EA72D73.2010506@gull.us>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
On 23 Apr 2003 at 20:18, David Brodbeck wrote:
> The whole time I've owned my van it's suffered from a loud, deep,
> resonant sort of droning noise on the highway, from about 45 mph on up.
> (Well, okay, I'm the one who suffers. I'm sure the van doesn't
> care.) I replaced the exhaust mounts and fixed all the exhaust leaks
> without changing it one bit.
>
> Well, today I got part of the intake snorkel, the upper part that goes
> in the vent. I don't have the rest of the pieces -- I don't even know
> what other pieces there *are*, except for a section of paper tube
> (though if someone with ETKA wants to let me know that'd be great) --
> but I jury-rigged it with a length of 3" diameter aluminum flexible duct
> from the hardware store. I mashed the duct into an oval shape with my
> hand so it would fit up into the vent area and mate with the air cleaner
> and snorkel.
>
> Man, what a difference! It's easily half as loud at 55 mph as it was
> before. And I know some of the remaining noise is from the aluminum
> duct buzzing against the bodywork, since I made no attempt to isolate
> it. I had no idea so much noise could come from an INTAKE.
>
> Now I just need to come up with a permanent fix.
>
> David Brodbeck, N8SRE
> '82 Vanagon Westfalia Diesel
This is a common problem with Rabbit diesels, where *any* leak in the air filter
housing can lead to horrible burbles/rattles at idle that become drones at speed. The
A2 Golf/Jetta diesels extended the intake into the front fender, which reduces noise
immensely, although any leaks in the intake can still cause problems. If you can't find
the original parts, you may want to try some insulated ducting for home heating
systems - available in various sizes, it's similar to the aluminum you have except that
it's wrapped in fiberglass, then a layer of plastic.
Or if you get tired of the noise, I'll trade my '88 with VS for your '82... ;-)
Shawn Wright
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
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