Date:         Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:42:01 -0500
Reply-To:     Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: mechanics in Maine?
Comments: To: Jim Arnott <jrasite@eoni.com>
In-Reply-To:  <D1B486AD-37B1-400E-8E1D-29492DF06791@eoni.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Yea good idea --- and someone else mentioned the cold being an issue. I
agree, if your master or slave cylinder are worn the seals are contracting a
bit in the cold --- enough to give you leakage that you woulnd't have in
Florida. Topping up the fluid helps some and as Jim suggests may help you
get to a decent mechanic. But the problem needs to be dealt with. If your
brakes are OK -- that suggests the slave cylinder is more likley the
problem. If the problem is hydraulic -- I suggest changing both the master
and slave cylinder while you're at it. Gives you a known good system for
awhile --- though god knows I've had a new master cylinder after only 10
months.

Good Luck,
Doug

On Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 10:54 PM, Jim Arnott <jrasite@eoni.com> wrote:

> Joy,
>
> Stop at service station.
> Purchase pint of brake fluid.
> Remove cover over instruments.
> Remove cap from master cylinder reservoir.
> Pour in brake fluid.
> Replace cap on reservoir.
> Replace cover over instruments.
> Pump clutch pedal a few times.
> Repeat as necessary until you get to the shop you trust.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 16, 2009, at 2:32 PM, Joy Hecht wrote:
>
> However not too soon for me to get some suggestions about putting it
>> in gear
>> with the engine off.  Well that's very easy, and no trouble starting
>> up and
>> taking off in reverse or first gear if I do it that way.  I also
>> found that
>> after the engine is off for a while it shifts more easily when I
>> turn it
>> back on - but that might be incidental.
>>
>


--
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