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Date:   Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:30:23 -0400
Reply-To:   Hans Achter <hansachter@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:   Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:   Hans Achter <hansachter@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:   Re: My EB Breakdown Story
Comments:   cc: Jeff Stewart <fonman4277@EARTHLINK.NET>
Content-Type:   text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original

I think it got jealous with you driving another van. :>) At least it got you all the way home still! -Hans East Coast Vanagon http://www.vanaru.com

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Stewart" <fonman4277@EARTHLINK.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Monday, April 16, 2007 10:09 AM Subject: My EB Breakdown Story

>I hope everyone has made it home safely from EB 2007, tho I suspect the > Canadians are still on their way home. I don't envy anyone out there today > on the highway in a Bay or Splittie! I left EB EARLY Sunday morning, > around > 6:00 AM, just had a feeling that I should head out early, and I'm glad I > did. On the way down Thursday, my '84 didn't seem to have the power I'm > used to, but I decided that it was due to the fact that it was now loaded > with camping gear, two coolers, etc. and the power loss was barely > noticeable, so I didn't give it much thought. Left Hagan Stone park Sunday > around 6:00 AM, and around Lynchburg, VA I needed gas. Strange thing about > Lynchburg, nearly every gas station was all lit up, inside and out, but > they weren't OPEN. Finally found one that not only had the lights on, but > was actually open as well, and filled up. Got back out on rte. 29 heading > north, and within 20 miles noticed that I couldn't make it up the > slightest > grade without downshifting to 3rd. I could still run 65 on flat land with > ease, but as soon as I hit any grade, speed dropped below 50. By > Charlottesville I could barely maintain 35 uphill, and I felt like I was > driving my '75 Westy. I started thinking that maybe I got bad gas in > Lynchburg. Stopped for breakfast in Charlottesville at an IHOP. No wonder > America is fat! I wanted the cinnamon pancakes they've been advertising on > TV, but found they don't offer just the cinnamon pancakes, they are IN > ADDITION to a regular full size breakfast! But the nice waitress said I > could just get the pancakes if that's all I wanted-but when she handed me > the check, the price was for the full meal <sigh> scratch IHOP off my > list! > Oh, and the pancakes, which they show on TV and on the menu covered in the > cinnamon syrup? It's actually just a small amount drizzled across the top. > Anyway, back to my story. Same thing after breakfast, although now the van > seemed to be struggling just getting to speed on flat land, but I could > still maintain the speed limit (BTW, through all this the engine temp > gauge > has not moved, and checking the oil at the IHOP showed the engine had not > used a drop). Turned off of Rte 29 onto Rte. 15 north at Haymarket, VA. > and > within 2 miles could not go over 10 MPH with the pedal to the floor. I > started thinking two things-I either got some really bad gas in Lynchburg, > or I ran the tank so low that I sucked in a bunch of crud from the tank > and > clogged the fuel filter. Barely coast into a Sheetz parking lot and jump > out to find smoke pouring from the back of the van! The exhaust is blazing > hot, the heat shield above the muffler has gone from silver to dull bronze > color, and the smoke is from the rubber sheath around the wiring that runs > over the heat shield. Plugged catalytic converter!! At this point I'm only > about 20 miles from home. I can get a tow, but I really didn't want to > wait > around in a Sheetz parking lot for who knows how long for a tow truck. > Sooo, I unbolted the cat (after it cooled, of course), then put washers in > between the cat and the muffler and bolted it back together, creating a > massive exhaust leak. I made it home this way, about 80% of the power > restored and running loud as hell, but at least I made it! Another > Everybus > adventure! > > Jeff Stewart > fonman4277@earthlink.net > http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vwcampersmidatlantic/ >


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