Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 12:30:37 -0500
Reply-To: "Kristin G. Burke" <doublvey@ALLTEL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Kristin G. Burke" <doublvey@ALLTEL.NET>
Subject: Re: Advice on 92 Eurovan
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
we just bought a 93 eurovan and took it to our very reliable dealership
because of the gas gauge /temp gauge problem and also the power mirror motor
(someone broke it before we bought it and siliconed the mirror right to the
motor itself )
Anyway diagnostics showed that it was the throttle body -it was causing an
idling problem and some contact problems and once it was in and the contacts
cleaned no more problems !!
Now it's off to the body shop to get a paint job to get a makeover (it's
going to be the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo---my husbands idea)
Now I need to find a Thing and a nice Westy and to wait for the new
Microbus.
Kristin
82 jetta diesel
89 jetta diesel
98 jetta tdi
93 eurovan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Pickersgill" <alanpick@MAGMA.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 12:03 AM
Subject: Advice on 92 Eurovan
I'm thinking about buying a 92 Eurovan GLS 180,000 km asking price $4500
Canadian - from used car lot.
Claim is that it is a one owner car traded to a local Nissan dealer and
wholesaled to the used car lot. I may be able to get phone number and
contact original owner? If so would like to have some good questions to ask.
Am looking for tips on where to look for evidence of common Eurovan
Trouble - rust and mechanical.
Condition
I had a quick look/drive and its overall condition seems "fair". Didn't have
a chance to crawl around - getting dark and good clothes on but body looked
solid, some minor repainting - back hatch and under left headlight.
Inside seemed pretty clean and not very worn for age.
I forgot to look for or check air conditioning, but otherwise things seemed
to work as they should including heated seats, power mirrors, windows door
locks, radio, (didn't try cassette).
Intruments
I believe there is a common problem with the instruments in Eurovans. I
noticed that gas gauge and temp gauge seemed to be dead - no movement from
key off to key on. Is this a big deal?
Driving Impression
Front brakes were very rough with pulsing peddle - felt like rotors/pads
would need to be change for sure.
Transmission itself seemed smooth enough shifting but there was sometimes a
distressing chassis sensation on shifting - difficult to describe. Sometimes
felt like maybe the clutch was not fully disengaging prior to shift or that
engine mounts or transmission mounts might be broken/weak?
Anybody know what this might be, how to diagnose for sure?
Engine seemed OK, no funny noises and no smoke I could see of any colour -
tried high revs in 1st gear and sudden back off to see if it would smoke -
none I could see.
Not much power but that is how they are I think?
Please send thoughts advice and impressions of the price - especially
Canadians who might know the price in $ Canadian. Kelly Blue book online
seemed to be saying about $4,000 US for a "fair" condition van in Texas.
Any advice is appreciated.
Ottawa Canada
Alan
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