Date:         Mon, 1 May 2006 22:19:08 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: First Long Drive, some observations
In-Reply-To:  <C07C554C.7E7C%robertmstewart@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

>
> A couple of issues though,... I suspect that the speedometer may be 5mph
> higher than actual speed is this normal? It has the stock size tires with
> alloy wheels.


Pretty normal. I think USDOT regs allow the speedo to have a reading error
of something like +5%/-1% from the factory (not sure of the exact #'s
anymore). Basically, the spec encourages erring on the side of indicating
higher than actual, so people are less likely to be driving faster than the
vehicle says they are. Vanagons seem to consistently read quite low. I put
16" wheels and 215/60-16 tires on mine and now it reads dead-on. Crazy.

The ability to climb hills is weak, at best I can get her to do 45-55mph on
> any kind of relative incline, steep or not, is this normal?


Unfortunately, this too is very, very normal-- unless you have a 1.6 diesel,
in which case it's worse. Welcome to stock-engined Vanagon ownership!

Next, when I reached my location after driving for 3 hours I am about to
> pull in, and all of sudden it stalls! I put it in park, and turns over no
> problem and continue to drive for another 5 minutes to my location without
> issue. What happened here? The O2 sensor is new, could I have an AFM
> problem?


Throttle idle switch?  Maybe the idle controller acting up? I'd check the
switch and, if it seems OK and it still happens, unplug the idle air bypass
valve, see if it goes away then. I have a tendency toward trial-and-error
troubleshooting. I'm sure others will have even more suggestions, many of
them better.

 It just does not feel
> smooth feeling when pressing down on the accelerator compared to modern
> cars. It this something I need to get used to?


Shouldn't be REALLY hard to push, but it IS like 12 feet long, so it will
definitely be a bit stiffer than your average front engine car. Cable it
easy enough to replace. I'd put in a new one, or at least buy a new one to
carry around so, when the old one breaks, you can put it in on the side of
the road like a REAL vw owner.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"