Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2007 19:29:13 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon.
In-Reply-To: <000a01c8348a$33c74e10$0201a8c0@DADSTOSHIBA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I can not concur about not doing the trannie oil.
Sitting for 5 years, so much moisture condensed in there you wouldn't
believe it.
Needs an immediate change as soon as the van gets home.
I recently picked up this 'strange van' , about a 7 hour drive away.
I asked the shop that had it at the time ( they were working on it for the
seller ) if it could sustain running on the freeway, they said they had no
idea !
But I figured I could pull it off. I will say this, when I'm driving an
untried, or been-dead-a-long time van, I just drive it straight and
carefully, watch what I can, and keep going, and don't even try things like
horn , radio or even wipers lest some weird short develop or something, if I
don't need those systems. Like just get it there first, THEN go messin' and
testing.' We drove 7 hours to get it, so it wasn't like we could leave it
there if we discovered a few small problems.
But letting anything sit is really, really bad for it, all systems.
Letting a vehicle sit is one of the very worst things you can do for it, and
ALL fluids need changing after that. Badly so.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dennis Haynes
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 6:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon.
If it is currently running why worry too much.
I would mostly do inspections of hoses, belts, and of course brakes. Don't
worry about changing tranny oil. 5 years is not that bag a deal. Carefully
check the fuel hoses to avoid surprises. Do some local test driving. If
all is ok, then go for the trip home. Make sure you have your tow
insurance ready and of course be careful. You are going to insure and
register first?
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Kai Mei
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 5:01 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon.
Anyone got a fresh perspective on this? Thanks.
I'm buying a van that has been sitting for 5 years... Run only once
every year or so.. long enough to warm up the engine. Every year was
the year he was "gonna do something with the van" but building his
house was taking up all the time. It was covered with a car cover (i
know paint abrades)... Currently it does not leak and all electrics
work except the front blower motor (which worked 5 years ago).
Before being laid up... regular maintenance, Mobil One... coolant
hoses changed, new paint (but not with windows out so theres some
rust near the window seals. This year Rear brake lines were rusted
out... those got replaced.
Currently running. tires are cracked... good thing I have a set in my
brownstone front yard, lol.
My plan is bring my tires. change the oil, do some driving, change
the oil again and auto tranny fluid.
Jump the fuel pump and listen for noise... test fuel pressure. I
think fuel lines were changed,
Can I disable the Idle stab. and just pull a spark plug wire w/o ill
effect to the ignition?
I'm also going to bring my O2 sensor monitor and see if it's bouncing
properly.
Test for brake fade, rusty rotors and burnt tranny fluid and drive
home 6.5 hours at 55mph.
Any other suggestions?