Date:         Fri, 24 Dec 2004 08:03:54 -0600
Reply-To:     Maggie Dew <maggie@WESTFAM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Maggie Dew <maggie@WESTFAM.NET>
Subject:      Merry Christmas + Power Steering Issues
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi all,



I brought the A.B. on her maiden voyage to Kansas for Christmas-roughly 225
miles.  The Subie engine performed beautifully and we sailed up the hills
(yes, there are hills in SE Kansas).  All went well, the kids fell in love
with her, and I was planning to take her on to Joplin, Missouri, to visit
friends.  When I got up the second morning and started her up, an awful
screeching commenced from the engine compartment.  I immediately shut her
down and checked everything I could think of before trying again.  I left
her running long enough to listen at the engine and thought the sound was
coming from the forward area, near where the starter sits.  Checked the
starter by turning the key again after starting, but that wasn't the
problem.  After considering several possibilities, I had my son-in-law
listen while I started again and he thought the sound was coming from back
near the power steering pump.  I had noticed a small leak up near the boot
on the front passenger side before I left Oklahoma and had put in a bottle
of Lucas power steering stop-leak.  Apparently the cold weather we're
experiencing thickened the stuff up enough to prevent free-flow.  I put in
some regular power-steering fluid, started her up again, and all is well.



And so - Merry Christmas to all and may you have smooth sailing.



Maggie

'85 Westy Vanaru "Anne Bonney"

'97 Blazer "Mudhead", pouting at home