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Date:         Mon, 9 May 2005 18:39:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Syncro abuse (long)
Comments: To: MilosKitchen <sagmoore@ZOOMINTERNET.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <20050509215019.43A597F404@mua-2.zoominternet.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The weak link here is the CV joints, the mouning bolts, and the shafts themselves.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of MilosKitchen Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 5:51 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Syncro abuse (long)

Argh,

Through some colossal stupidity on my part, I managed to have my differential lock engage somewhere during my drive down Rt 79 and through Pittsburgh. It hadn't been working previously (since I've owned it) and the indicator light didn't come on (I'll be checking on that!).

My first clue was when changing lanes, it felt like I was fighting a good crosswind. Later, on the interstate in town, it really became alarming when I had to take a rather tight LH sweeping turn and I really had to TURN the wheel to get her to come around (made a bad noise as well). I'm freaking out now, put on the flashers and crawled to the next gas station. Van made really horrible noises pulling into the gas station. Get out, look underneath, move the steering wheel while I look etc. At this point I just cannot figure out what the heck is going on. I get in and drive it another two blocks and have to turn hard right. Lots of protest and clanking. I'm thinking aggressive VC, should I pull over and take the drive shaft off. Then I remembered that I had squirted the diff lock shaft while I had the transmission out last week (still didn't work then). The heat from the first long drive must have loosened things up. (My bad for not checking that the vacuum connections were correct, I just put them back on the same way).

Once I figured out what was going on, on a side street, I stopped and swapped the vacuum lines on the diff lock actuator. Reversed a little distance and then went forward, and all was better. I drove the rest of the way to work with no other expensive noises, and back home the 43 miles, everything feeling perfectly normal. I crawled underneath when I got home and can't detect any problems with the rear CV joints or driveshaft joints, and there are no holes blown out in the transmission case.

I will never forget how that felt and so if it happens again, I'll sure know what the heck is happening right away. For the transmission experts, is there anything else I or a professional should be looking at, or should I just be glad nothing broke and not do it again?

Ruefully,

Dave Milo

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