Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 03:24:41 +0000
Reply-To: Mark hersh <markhersh@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark hersh <markhersh@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: 86 2.1 L clunking noise under load
In-Reply-To: <e254fbc233260.44edbc62@optonline.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Thanks to all that replied. I am leaning toward the CV joint for the clunk
noise cause as I have been hearing some tapping noise back there. I've had
air-cooled VWs and I'm familiar with CV joint noise but was too lazy/busy to
do anything about this (we took the trip because contractors were in doing a
portion of the Five-Year-Mostly-DIY-Home-Remodel-Project-Now-In-Year-Seven).
The Vanagon has not been a priority.
I'll also check out the cooling system (one garage was checking for leaks
and admits they probably damaged the radiator in a pressure check), AT fluid
leak, and replace my fuel lines. Thanks for the various tips. The Bentley
manual is one resource but the advice of other owners/mechanics is very
valuable and can't be duplicated.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: Mark hersh
Date: Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:07 am
Subject: 86 2.1 L clunking noise under load
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Hi Everyone,
>
> We're new to the list and recently acquired an 86 Weekender
> Westy (2.1 L
> stock engine, auto trans) that we took last week from our home
> in Seattle to
> the Missoula MT area. Heading up a steep grade in a National
> Forest the
> engine made a deep clunk noise that I thought might have been a
> main bearing
> going south. We stopped, let it cool, checked oil and coolant,
> and got out
> of there. We took it easy, 50-55 mph but it made the same noise
> going up
> Lookout Pass (MT to ID on I-90) and I eased up on the gas and we
> crested at
> 15-20 mph on the shoulder. Ran fine downhill, through Spokane,
> stopped for
> the night having travelled about 150 miles after the first clunks.
>
> The next day we kept it at 50-55 most of the way and crested
> Snoqualmie Pass
> around 40 mph with no apparent problems and made it home ~250
> miles. I did
> add ATF (about a cup) and one quart engine oil after Lookout
> Pass but before
> Snoqualmie.
>
> I have been having some coolant problems and have been needing
> to top off
> the filler tank occasionally. In one rest stop, it did overflow
> a bit, but
> the gauge never ran higher than 5/8 (OK, maybe 11/16, but not
> 3/4) and after
> the clunk I ran the heaters if it got past 1/2. It always ran
> less than 1/2
> on extended downhills and 1/2.
>
> A friend (with no VW experience) says it's unlikely I could have
> made it
> back 400 miles with a main bearing going south and suggested a
> loose motor
> mount might make such a noise. The van has 240K miles on the
> odometer and
> has had some engine work done in the past (probably goes without
> saying),but I sensed both engine and trans were near the end of
> the wear cycles when
> we bought him. With this trip, we have put about 2500 miles on
> him, but
> this was the longest and most strenuous trip we've been on.
>
> Any ideas? Thanks.
>
> Mark & Jennifer
> 86 Weekender Wolfsburg Edition, "Monty"
>
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