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Date:         Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:17:53 -0700
Reply-To:     Zoltan <thewestyman@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Zoltan <thewestyman@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Depressing weekend
Comments: To: Danny <bruiserbabie@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <719222.98114.qm@web33904.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"; reply-type=original

Danny, Before some more of the same happens, change all the seals on that transmission. And most importantly the two "back-to-back" seals inside between the two units. This time you got away with it. H pipe should be in your stash in the car along with the other little goodies to avoid stranding. These are very old cars and one has to be defensive. I have changed them not long ago and can do it for you if necessary. Zoltan

----- Original Message ----- From: "Danny" <bruiserbabie@YAHOO.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 10:34 AM Subject: Depressing weekend

So we were off to the beach for the weekend and we were all packed up in the westy and ready to go. I told my wife wait I forgot my shaving cream and razor. We both went back to the house while the kids were all buckled up waiting. As I was unlocking the door my wife yelled "Danny look" the van was gushing water from the engine hitting the hot exhaust bellowing steam and smoke. I quickly ran to the van to ture it off. Upon inspection noticed that the H pipe for the coolant was cracked. What a relief that this happened before we left at our home rather than 100 miles away from home. I called a vw wrecking yard and asked them if they had one, to my luck they did. We ran out in out more reliable car "a 2008 Toyota Matrix" and picked it up. I replaced it and then we were off. Now I want to tell you my van is a 1984 westy with a 1.9L engine that we just had rebuilt 1500 miles ago and boy does it run nice. So we were on our way to the beach, Kids and wife were all asleep and we were 5 miles to the ocean "about 80 miles form home (Portland Oregon). A wind gust came along and whipped the dog kennel off the front roof rack, Luckily it was bungeed to the roof so now it was hanging off to the side. It was enough to wake my wife up. She did not know what had happened so she was looking around. She said honey why are we smoking? I quickly looked back to see a plume of smoke coming from behind the van. I pulled over and killed the engine. Got out and looked under the engine. Oil was leaking down form the bell housing (its an automatic). So long story short I had to pay for a tow truck to carry us home. The cost? $400.00 WTF ouch!!!! So now the van is sitting at the mechanics shop and I hope its just a main seal….. I hope you all had a pleasant weekend.

Danny '84 Westy (Vanny)


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