Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 12:55:30 +0000
Reply-To: kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: '89 Vanagon GL Diagnostic Challenge
Trevor,
<Would you believe it!? I was ON THE WAY to the DMV to get the sucker
> registered, and the clutch gave out! Ah yes, I'm a real Westy owner now!
>
> Intended Action: Replace clutch assembly; replace flywheel.>
You are going to want to replace the clutch no matter what since you are in
there, but it could not be the clutch. It is probably either the throw out
bearing, or more likely the arm that pushes the throw out bearing against the
pressure plate. I had this exact thing happen and the throw out bearing guide
was worn so much that it made the throw out bearing have resistance whenever it
the pedal was pressed. Over time this put stress on the actuator arm and
finally one of the arms broke off. I think it worked a few more times after
this until the TO bearing just came off of the one arm that was left. I have
new clutch kits in stock for $120 and new actuator arms and TO bearing guides
if you need them. Flywheel should be OK. May need to be resurfaced but this
can be done at any machine shop.
2. Low Oil pressure warning. As John suggested 20w-50 oil and a Black oil
filter (Mann or Mahle) are a must. If this doesn't help you should actually
check your pressure with a gauge. You don't want to ignore a warning light
that might actually be really sensing a problem. How many miles on the engine?
3. Loss of Power with Highway Driving.
This sounds like Vanagon Syndrome or Bucking Syndrome. I have a page on my
website that deals with this:
http://www.vanagain.com/bucking1.htm
Hope this helps.
4. Coolant leak
The valve covers DO NOT hold back coolant but oil. Take the covers off and see
if the green stuff is coming from inside. If not then it could just be running
on the valve cover from somewhere else. If the green stuff is coming from
inside then you have something majorly wrong like a cracked head or a head nut
leaking (why?). If you are getting coolant in the oil then you should have
noticed this when you checked your oil (oil will become whitish or cream
colored and smell like coolant).
Let me know if I can help you. I have all the parts you need to fix the van in
stock. And if you buy from me I'll give you over the phone support about
putting everything back together.
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
Phone: 856-327-4936
Fax: 856-327-2242
> Hi all, I'm the proud new owner of an '89 westy that has proudly started to
> display some problems, and before I get up to my elbows in grease, I wanted
> to solicit the lists's collective opinion on what's going on.
>
> Here are some diagnostic clues (problems may or may not be related):
>
> Van is 1989 Vanagon GL (Watercooled 2.1L Waterboxer) Manual.
>
> ----
> [1] CLUTCH FAILURE:
> Would you believe it!? I was ON THE WAY to the DMV to get the sucker
> registered, and the clutch gave out! Ah yes, I'm a real Westy owner now!
>
> Details: The clutch had begun to make some noise the day before - a
> squealing sort of noise that began to happen when clutching to switch gears,
> and over the day progressed to squeal even in neutral whenever I rev the
> engine. Sounded like a bad bearing. Finally, I clutched in to switch on that
> fateful DMV drive, and the clutch did not spring back. It's stuck in
> neutral, and the pedal won't move. When I look at the flywheel/pressure
> plate housing, there are some metal shavings lying next to it, (not good!).
>
> My Diagnosis: Given the noises it was making and the shavings, I'm thinking
> maybe the pressure plate somehow got fused to something else, and or
> something came loose and got ground up in there.
>
> Intended Action: Replace clutch assembly; replace flywheel.
>
> ----
>
> [2] LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING:
> While booting down the highway near monument valley one hot day this summer,
> the oil pressure warning and light (surprisingly) came on. I pulled over,
> checked the oil level (which was a little on the low side, but within
> bounds), added some more oil, and kept going.
> After another 1/2 hour, warning came on again. Given this was about 1/2way
> along a 3000 mile trip, I had plenty of time to experiment with what was
> going on.
>
> It seems like the warning would come on whenever
> (A) the engine was hot, and
> (B) I was in a highly geared situation, e.g./ engine running slow/highly
> torqued, like climbing a hill at 60 in 4th gear. Sortof like a downshift
> warning!
>
> My Diagnosis: Weak oil pump. I figure when the engine heats up and the oil
> is less viscous, a screwed pump is unable to maintain oil pressure when the
> engine RPM is too low.
>
> Intended Action: Replace Oil Pump.
>
> ----
>
> [3] LOSS OF POWER WITH HIGHWAY DRIVING
> Whenever I am driving at the same speed consistently on the highway for
> awhile, the engine will loose power. A couple of times it cut off if I took
> it out of gear/exited the highway.
>
> My Diagnosis: Fuel filter or lines clogged with sediment
> Intended Action: Replace Fuel Filter (already tried using a sediment remover
> in gas - helped reduce problem)
>
> ---
>
> [4] Observed slow leak of 'green stuff' from valve covers
> My Diagnosis: Please, oh please let this just be the valve cover gaskets --
> engine supposedly had heads done within past year.
> Intended action: Replace valve covers and gaskets.
>
>
>
> Any other opinions, second opinions, advice on these jobs I'm about to dive
> into, rants about the length of this message, etc.. Would be so very much
> appreciated!! I intend to take photos of these jobs as I do them for general
> education of those who've never worked on a vanagon before - I'll send the
> links and results.
> Thanks,
> Peace, Love and German Engineering
>
> Trevor
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