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Date:         Sun, 2 Dec 2007 03:01:02 -0500
Reply-To:     Kai Mei <kai@NEWCLEAR.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kai Mei <kai@NEWCLEAR.US>
Subject:      Re: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon.
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000201c834a5$cbe9e250$0201a8c0@DADSTOSHIBA>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

And this is where the test drive and your guys experience comes in...

A full auto tranny fluid change can be hazardous, or so I've heard... Perhaps I should just pump out 2 quarts and put in 2 quarts? And do this every oil change until I drop the pan and do a full service?

And the van hasn't been totally Idle 5 years, every year it got driven somewhere to warm it up. So far this year it's only been run up to 30 MPH. I don't have anywhere to work on it so I won't get it if it's not a safe running vehicle.

On Dec 2, 2007, at 12:40 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> Scott, > I agree with you. My comments were based on getting it home. If the > tranny > has oil in the water from condensation, damage is already done. If no > damage, then the trip home will partly dry it out. I have had > trannies in > the garage actually fill with water from heating the garage in winter. > > Dennis > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On > Behalf Of > Scott Daniel - Shazam > Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 10:29 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon. > > 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?


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