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
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
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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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