Date:         Tue, 1 Jul 2003 09:30:45 -0400
Reply-To:     "rmstewart@mac.com" <rmstewart@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "rmstewart@mac.com" <rmstewart@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Used Van Help: I bought the Van!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

Hi Everyone, 

I wanted to thank everyone for their advice on the used van I was looking
at. Well I made an offer and they accepted, for $1850 I just purchased a
1989 Blue Carat with 149K miles on it.

I am having it shipped up from Florida by auto shipper. The van had been
with one family for itıs entire life span.

I figure this van was worth atleast $3K so if I need to put a $1,000 into
than it makes it ok.

As it turns outs it only needs a regulator ($180) for the window not a new
motor.  I figure the rear the brakes ($200 incl. labor), Tail pipe 8² piece
($50), Rear hatch lifters ($40), Plastic Body Mold behind the sliding door
($100), and the AC Needs recharging another $(150 incl. labor), plus an
extra $200 for labor totals to $920.

I got a quote for the everything but the plastic from the mechanic in
Florida for $500, so that seems pretty fair.

As far as the compression test goes, the mechanic could not do a leak down
test as he did have the equipment to do it but I did ask.

I assume that eventually the heads will need to be redone, but possible a
valve adjustment is a good short term solution to be completed with full
tune-up and fluid replacement. Which I would be assume is around another
$500?

The PO and the their old mechanic both told me on their own that the van was
serviced religiously every 3000 miles for general maintenance, and the
mechanic who examined the van for me said he was very surprised at how good
a condition the engine was in, which he thought was very rare for a van of
this year and mileage.

Thanks again everyone for your help.

Robert
89 Blue Carat
NYC

------------------
Sorry, but compression tests are not that reliable on their own. There
are many variables such as engine cranking speed, throttle position etc
that can change the results. Leakdown gives good measurements and full
pressure into the cylinders will tell you where the leaks are. On
Waterboxers, this should also be done with the pressure cap removed to
detect leakage into the cooling system. I just did a compression test on
a van with readings of #1-125, #2-145, #3-130, #4-150. Guess what, the
leakdown should all cylinders except #4 had leaking intake valves. No
wonder the idle is rough.

Dennis
------------------------
Engine Compression #
125/130/130/130

not bad. just old. bentley sez ..
minimum:  116psi
nominal:    145-189psi
max difference between 2 cylinders:  44psi
so you're a little low on the nominal, but that's to be expected
with 150,000 miles. probably worn piston rings, or possibly just
loose-adjusted valves.

The Bad:

Problems found:
Lic. Plate bulb out

yawn. $0.65. :)

Rear wheel cylinder and brake shoes need replacing

another yawn. like $20 per wheel for the cylinders (if that
much). maybe $50 per wheel for shoes.
another $50 for labor.

Right passenger side window motor not working, Needs a regulator
I was told

this is gonna cost you. :( like $180 for the regulator and
another $150 for the motor, if needed. :(
plus labor. and it ain't that easy to get the thing out and the
new one back in ...tricky. if you've never done it before, it can
easily take you over an hour to struggle with it. once you've
done it, it's a 30 minute job.

Tail pipe rusted out 8² piece

another stupidly expensive vanagon-only part. like$50.

Rear hatch lifters need replacement

easy ... like $20 for each side. check www.busdepot.com and
www.vanagain.com

AC Needs recharging, blows cool but not cold. R12 he believes

big bucks to recharge IF they do the diagnosis and find out
what's wrong (if anything). freon can be leaked out simply by
letting the bus sit for several months. to keep the freon in the
system, you must run the a/c system at least 15 minutes every
7-10 days. otherwise, the rubber seals tend to dry out and let
the freon escape.

Cost Estimate for parts and labor repair $400-500 dollars
Is the price for the repairs to high?

sounds a little low, what with the power window. i've done a
couple of these and they are not cheap! :(

How should it be to replace all the fluids in the van as well
have a
complete tune-up?

i still think you're looking in the neighborhood of $1000 by the
time you get all that done (and the fluids replaced and tune-up).
:(

good luck!
joel