Date:         Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:07:39 -0700
Reply-To:     miguel pacheco <mundopacheco@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         miguel pacheco <mundopacheco@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Opinion on Long Trip w/young driver to Florida from Texas
Comments: To: Mike Collum <collum@myfairpoint.net>
In-Reply-To:  <49A80B71.4080505@myfairpoint.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Michael, my three kids (two boys and one girl) have all asked me, at
one time or another, if they could borrow my vans. I always responded,
'a bed on wheels? No way!'
If you let him, I would make sure that he understands the subtleties
of the vehicle and that he's able to do minor repairs.
I haven't seen this one mentioned yet. One little 'word,' AAA!
Thanks,
            Miguel



On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 8:49 AM, Mike Collum <collum@myfairpoint.net> wrote:
> If you do decide to let him take it, make sure he knows NOT to drive to
> the next exit nor to the top of the present hill should the oxy/alt
> light come on.  Rather that he knows to shut off the engine right now
> and coast to the side of the road and check to see if the belt is still
> in place.  The waterpump, after all, is driven by the alternator belt.
>
> If the belt is OK then he could drive on the battery for quite a ways to
> get to where he could have the alternator repaired.
>
> BTW, in a pinch, one can shift the power steering belt to the
> alternator/waterpump.  It won't hurt the power steering to go beltless.
>
> It wouldn't hurt to make sure he knows how to change belts and do other
> routine maintenance things.
>
> Mike
>