Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 09:25:18 -0400
Reply-To: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: Reliability?
Howard.... THE QUESTION! this as been ask many time over the years...
And there is no real answer. It's NOT an Honda engine that will never break,
VW as an history of electrical-FI-mechanical problems.
Here in Quebec, we drive small cars, European and Japs mostly, i have
travel enough in North America to tell you that there is more VW cars here
then elswhere in NA... so that said, beside my shop there is other shop, and
the one beside me is a VW (Car) and Honda shop (modification and tunning),
the Honda cars that come in this shop are mostly for engine swap or
modification (no real problem), the VW cars that come in are for.... all
kind of crasy problems...
VW made one good car, the TD or TDI, period... so, to answer your question,
VW is not one of the most reliable car-van in the world. I use to dislike
American cars because i tought they were... old style thec. but lately, i
change my mind, my girlfriend is driving a Sunfire from pontiac, this thing
as 100k miles and drive like a charme, she never had any problem at all, i'm
not saying it's the most fun to drive or most modern tec. but for 15k, it's
a very good car... anyway, the point is VW is known for theirs electrical
problems, including FI... so the Vanagon is not excluded! of course i have a
Vanagon shop and all i see is problems! but i am perfectly aware that a lot
of people DON'T have much problems! BUT, those one we don't hear a lot and
they don't post a lot.
So, to my point now... have a GOOD VW VANAGON mechanic take a carefull look
at your van, and change what ever need to be change or replace, do some
maintenance, keep some spare FI parts with you (even if you don't know what
they are, a mechanic will and he won't have to search for them).... and you
should be ok! the head gasket problem won't happen that suddenly, you should
see sign way before. Trany also do give sign most of the time... now, let's
talk about stuff that don't give sign:
-Coolant line, tube, hoses... especially those that attach to the engine
(front of right head in your case) Expension tank, they do crack and always
in the same spot, front heater valve, a classic. Some northern van have a
metal coolant line rust problem... so those should also be checked.
Fuel injection, yeap, like you said in your post, Digijet and Dijifan system
are an old and of a very stupid design, complex for nothing and they are
getting old... again, have a mechanic check all wires, plugs and ground
verified, CHANGE all fuel line in the engine compartment. the classic
problems are: Fuel pump, AFM, fuel pressure regulator, some distributor are
getting old and are giving me trouble....
That said, they can be pretty reliable if well maintain! but that is THE
problem, people don't maintain them properly, they think of the old VW Bug
that would run for ever... but that is not the case with a somewhat complex
20 years old Vanagon.
Anyway, i feel that all that as been said over and over.
Vanagon have still a long way to go.. we now have to preserve them a bit
more. The Westfalia side of the van is unbelievably solid and most of the
time, dosn't show it's age... the body and general mechanic (suspension,
brake, steering) side of the van is very solid and reliable also.
Nothing compare to a Vanagon or Bus's, it's a unique vehicle and it will
always be... like i always said, it's a love & hate relation.
Regards, Ben
http://www.benplace.com/
| 
