Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 07:16:11 -0400
Reply-To: vw4x4@FYI.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Subject: Re: Hello Everyone, I am back on the list and Need your Help....
In-Reply-To: <BCB94885.55EA%robertmstewart@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Rob,
Please note the seller listed it as "6 - Parts or Salvage"
Not a bad price, but you will need to put work in to
this vehicle.
Eric
robertmstewart wrote:
>Hello to all the Vanagon owners out there, hope all is well out there
>Vanagon land,
>
>Robert Stewart in NYC with the burnt Christmas Vanagon (blue carat)
>http://homepage.mac.com/rmstewart
>
>Well I am still have not purchased another Van but I have I am looking
>again.
>
>I found one but have some questions for all the experts out there about some
>it's problems and am hoping you ladies and gentlemen might be able to help
>me out.
>
>Here's the deal. The van is is a Blue 89 Carat just like my old one but
>selling for $1K dollars, it has had one owner before the person who has it
>now. That person purchased it new in 1989, and it has 160K miles and with a
>rebuilt engine at 114K miles. It has been with the current owner for 1 year
>and he put on 4-5,000 miles on it during that year and did some camping in
>it.
>
>View it here:
>http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=63380
>
>The good things:
>Rebuilt Engine 114K
>New Exhaust
>New Water Pump
>New Master Brake Cylinder
>
>The bad:
>
>Rust:
>It has some very rust around rear hatch, paint is chipping off there as
>well, has a minor dent on the hatch as well, nothing that could not be
>pulled out. Has some rust around the as well and in the passenger side rear
>wheel well fender flare, inside the front Driver and Passenger side foot
>wells and some small spots on the hood. All rust areas have had inhibitor
>placed on all areas of rust on the car.
>(I figure that all of that could be sanded out and repainted eventually)
>
>
>Rear Wiper not operational. Not sure if it's a motor issue and owner never
>looked into it.
>
>Transmission Slowly Leaking Fluid:
>Strong Tight Transmission though when driving.
>(Is it possible the screen needs to be replaced? And new fluid needs to be
>added?) Current owner says I he tops it off once every couple of months. Not
>a major issues he says.
>
>Here's the big one:
>Temp Gauge Overheating:
>Coolant bubbling out of the overflow tank when the vehicle is stopped at a
>red light, fine while in the driveway for 30 min at idle.
>Says the Radiator is Cool and he had the mechanic Bleed Lines, and that
>there is Good pressure present.
>Fan's are Ok, and heaters all work, air conditioner works but is not blowing
>cold.
>Oil is 20w30
>
> I assume this could be the following:
>( From the archives fellow Vanagon owners....)
>
>*Clogged radiator which could need a flushing, and cleaning
>
>* A crack in the coolant tanks, crack in one of the hoses letting air in.
>
>*A crack in the expansion tank located on the coolant level sensor boss may
>be letting air in preventing the tank from sucking the coolant back and
>could be causing it to overflow.
>
>*A leak down test would also determine if there an issue with the gaskets.
>May not be a cracked gasket if the engine was rebuilt 46K miles ago.****
>
>While the engine is revving, the combustion gasses are getting into the
>cooling system. You do not see the "bubbles" while the engine in being
>revved due to water pump pulling through the coolant tank. When the engine
>returns to idle, the pump pulls less allowing the air the enter the tank
>quickly, releasing the bubbles. This is why both the cooling systems on
>water boxers have problems after extended highway runs. The
>gasses keep building up until there is no place to go and they either
>vapor lock the pump or blow everything out the relief valve.
>
>-That's *exactly* the symptoms I had with a cracked head on my diesel
>Westy. While driving the combustion gases seemed to accumulate in the
>radiator, in fact the entire top half of the radiator would end up *cold*.
>
>*cracked head ( I assume not as the owner had it at the mechanics just
>recently and did not want to get into fixing the van so he told the owner to
>just sell it for parts additionally the owner told the mechanic he was going
>to purchase a Westy so the mechanic just wants the problem off his hands.
>
>Other issues:
>Transmission Slowly Leaking Fluid:
>Strong Tight Transmission though.
>(Screen may need to be replaced*)
>
>
>Small Oil Leak: Add about 1 quart a year (4-5K miles
>during year)
>A small blot where standing. Oil Filter and screen
>cleaning.*
>
>So what I am wondering now it what you guys think? What do you think it will
>cost to fix the coolant issue, the transmission and small oil leak (which
>could just be normal)?
>
>I have very little funds so that is why I am looking at this fixer upper. If
>I had lots of cash I would purchase something in far better shape.
>
>I know the old adage, "you get what you pay for".. I just want to know if
>you think I could make it reliable. I am not concerned with making pretty
>at the moment. Thanks again.
>
>Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.
>
>Regards to all,
>
>Robert
>NYC
>
>
>
>
| 
