Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 20:20:20 -0400
Reply-To: Hemrick Thomas TSgt AFTAC DOZA
<Thomas.Hemrick@AFTAC.PATRICK.AF.MIL>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Hemrick Thomas TSgt AFTAC DOZA
<Thomas.Hemrick@AFTAC.PATRICK.AF.MIL>
Subject: Tips, Laments, Rantings
Content-Type: text/plain
All,
I hope your Vanagon or other VW is treating you well. I've got only a few
tips to pass and a few not so kind words.
1. The ultra low temp thermostat for the 93 Corrado is a perfect fit in the
1987 VW Syncro 2.1. It's rated 10 degrees lower than the lowest I could
find for the Vanagon. Might freeze your nuts off in the great white north
but down here in FL, it's great to see low temps when your not moving (think
tourist traffic in Orland around summer time).
2. The Coleman electric fridge they sell at Wal-Mart fits great right
behind the drivers seat between the middle seat and the seat base. Plus,
you can actually grab a cold beverage out while driving. Well, if it's a 1
Liter bottle of water... I haven't had any problems with the fridge or the
adapter for 110. I've heard some stories.
3. Some of you may have heard of an electrical problem some vanagon's have
and the mechanic will replace the fuse box. Some of you may have an
accessory that may not work but everything checks fine right up to the fuse
box. Check this out. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, Pull all the fuses and relays
keep the relays in order or you will need a Bentley manual!), and the front
of the fuse box pops off with a screwdriver. You'll see a whole mess of
brass arms. Those are the relay contacts. Starting from the top row, left
side moving to the right, use a pair of good pliers (your style and size
your choice) and GENTLY squeeze the arms that run "horizontal" (they grab a
blade of the relay that runs up-down) You'll notice a line of them from
right to left. You can squeeze a little overlapping as they spring back but
be careful not to overdue it. Then do the middle row, then do the bottom
row. Now, you can work from the left top corner again, but work the arms
that run top to bottom. Work from the top down, move one row over, do it
again until you reach the right side. This way you won't miss a single one.
Put it all back together. All my relays are in tight as can be and
EVERYTHING works like day one out of the factory.
4. The Red Optima is a great starting battery and the Yellow Optima is a
great accessory battery. I've got them both in the "on the side position"
with the terminal posts pointing forward. Best investment I've made. NO
more leaking! Sure it helped that I got them for a great price but I still
would have got them. If you're riding the fence, just get one. You WON'T
be sorry.
5. In the near future when I part with my 87 Syncro, if the guy I use to
work with doesn't get it, I'll offer it up on the list before I let the
rest of the world at it on Ebay.
My VW's have been OK but ANY contact/association/relationship to the VW
dealer and or VWOA (specifically Three county VW in NJ and The Imported Car
Store in Melbourne FL) have been absolutely horrible!!! In fact I wish they
both disappear and a Honda dealership moves in to both vacant lots. VWOA,
well they can kiss my @$$!!! They have lost me as a customer for life (been
one for over 30 years!) and I'm well on my way to telling everyone I knew,
know, meet, kids meet, relatives know, friends know and everyone in the
military that VW customer support is nothing more than a joke.
I dropped off my 93 Corrado at the dealer for a "would not start" problem.
They wanted a $10,000 deposit! That's NO typo. Their "Master" mechanic
once went through two engines, three superchargers (although mine is a v6
not the I-4 with G-lader) and wrote this all up on the guys bill for over 13
months of work and $10,000 in bills to the customer. No wonder the guy left
the car there for scrap and stiffed the dealer. Some "Master" Mechanic.
They wouldn't even hook my car up the VAG test equipment. They said, "it
wouldn't tell us anything." Well it told me a lot! A great independent
guy spent 2.5 hours for $150 and found some electrical problems. FIXED!
SOOOO... It's now time that I leave the flock in search of a new marque.
Even the new cars have mailing lists so I won't be without support when
things go wrong. And we know that ALL cars have some problem or another. I
will NOT miss VW or the cars (although I can spot just about any of them
from a half mile, in the rearview mirror, at night, during a rain storm,
with my sunglasses still on........) but I will miss the support,
friendship, bantering, funny stories/pictures and just damn good people I've
dealt with for the past few years.
Be safe and take care. Hope those tips help at least one of you.
TJ Hemrick
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