Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:47:07 -0500
Reply-To: Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: The Otter Has (CRASH) Landed!
In-Reply-To: <4AF169C5.6070206@comcast.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
I think they Said the Ball Joint Boots Were Cracked. Hell they Crack
2 weeks after you install them if a crappy or Old aftermarket boot.
You Could just replace the Boots. If the Shop Doesn't Beat them
senseless. Fuel leak could have occurred during your travel. It is a
OLD Vanagon. Crap will be and can be wrong. All of it is easy fix.
Tighten the wheel bearing Nut. It might be just out of adjustment.
Buy a bunch of Zip ties for the wiring or the sleeve stuff and
electrical tape. Toss on a end cap and your Golden. Allot of times
the blinker will flash fast if a bulb is burned out. Bulbs die all
the time. I've had new out of the package die in a week.
All of it sounds like Basic Silly Vanagon issues. Bushings are easy
but take a bit of time. Hell I've Never seen one without cracks in
the Bushings. For its age it sounds like a keeper Still. Some of it
you could bang out by stopping at a Parts store worth a crap.
Good luck and enjoy the Vanagon Life. Fixing it is part of Owning.
Oh Fuel Line leaks and straps Just zip tie to the Frame. Swap out the
Crappy Dead Fuel line anyway. It might not have leaked when you took
possession of it. Of course the Shop who sent you on could have
charged you more for the vehicle then you paid for it in repairs
saying everything is wrong. Hard to know.
Not a Biggie. Just Fix it to make the inspector Happy and get to Camping!!
Jonce
>Pat, the estimate they gave you was very high. It sounds like less than
>$1000 worth of parts and labor at a good non-dealer shop. Find someone
>how specializes in VW or better yet Vans in your area. The shop that
>you paid to have it inspected at owes you your money back and they
>should have caught the ball joints, wheel bearings, and fuel lines.
>Those are the three worst things and we are talking 5 hours of labor to
>repair all of that. The rest you could do yourself. Probably have a
>bad bulb or socket in one of the front turn signals causing the rapid
>flashing. Get some electrical tape and tie wraps for the wiring, and
>buy a couple of new bumper end caps which are only $15 each from us and
>you are good to go. Inspection stations have to find things wrong. If
>they didn't why would they need to exist? But they really didn't find
>anything majorly wrong. Just gave you a really high ball park estimate.
>
>Ken Wilford
>John 3:16
>www.vanagain.com
>
>
>Pat Sloan wrote:
>>Well Curses!!! We have these words for a reason, no?
>>
>>
>>
>>Yesterday, I picked up my beautiful 1982 Volkswagen. I had paid for it on
>>Oct. 21 and turned it over to a highly recommended garage in Puyallup for a
>>full inspection and repair of whatever needed fixing while I went with a
>>friend to Wenatchee area for 10 days. They replaced the muffler and
>>catalytic converter and a few light bulbs and pronounced her ready to roll.
>>Took all day yesterday to drive it up to Vancouver and go through exporting
>>it from the US and into CAN. I named her 'Otter' and was looking forward to
>>eventual camping fun and maybe a Vanagon get-together.
>>
>>
>>
>>Today I went for the final step - Prov. of BC inspection prior to
>>registering and insuring her. To my great surprise, she failed (!!!!) and
>>(Gulp). Here's what needs fixing:
>>
>>1. Turn signals and 4-way flashers are blinking too quickly. Wiring
>>issue. A few hours work.
>>2. Left rear bumper missing corner. Allowing sharp edges to catch.
>>3. Fuel lines leaking fuel. Siliconed and held by electrical tape
>>4. Fuel filter not secured
>>5. Multiple stretches of loose wiring. Must be resecured.
>>6. Front wheel bearings have too much end play. Must be replaced.
>>7. Sway bar bushings are cracked - all 4.
>>8. Upper and lower ball joints all have split boots.
>>
>>I wasn't at a VW garage since, of course, this inspection was only going to
>>be a formality. They estimated that the repairs needed would cost about
>>$3000. They referred me to Justin at Capilano VW for a more informed
>>opinion. I scanned the insp. report and sent it to him. Will hopefully find
>>out tomorrow, but not in love with the idea of paying dealer prices for
>>service.
>>
>>
>>
>>So, I thought I would send this info to the Vanagon list for your informed
>>opinions.
>>
>>
>>
>>I feel sick. Can't afford to put thousands more into this vehicle. It's my
>>own stupid fault for sure, but I had expected to hear this kind of thing
>>from the Puyallup garage before I ever left the US. Now the van has turned
>>into a pumpkin. No longer registered in WA or BC. Must be taken off the
>>streets or it will be impounded. (Gotta find a spot!) Meanwhile trying to
>>get enough facts to decide what to do.
>>
>>
>>
>>Also, must try to find out if I have any recourse from the seller or from
>>Ebay. I know that used car sales are always asis, whereis, but this is
>>selling an unsafe vehicle, which I think may be different. To think that I
>>drove that sucker from Puyallup to Vancouver with leaky fuel lines, bad
>>wheel bearings, cracked sway bar bushings and split ball joints.
>>
>>
>>
>>Any and all thoughts, ideas, interesting curses, etc would be welcome.
>>
>>Thank you and Grrrr,
>>
>>Pat
>>
| 
