Date:         Thu, 3 Feb 2011 04:27:15 -0800
Reply-To:     "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET>
Subject:      Re: Bad plastic(s)
Comments: To: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AEC76B1B-D3FC-4F37-9F9A-2236D058C972@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Ben, if you have rarely seen the damage I mention, it's possible that
one of the DPOs of my Vanagon with brown parts may have been
overzealous when tightening screws. However, I observe brittle and
damaged plastics in this list of parts:

Steering column cowl
Map pockets
Heater control panel (the molding that holds the light is cracked)
Brake fluid reservoir
Door pulls (they all seem to be scraped and scratched)
Inside door latch inserts
Visor clips

And so on. In the junkyards I have yet to find a map pocket that isn't
damaged at the screws.

Maybe it's because we get sun down here in San Diego, and you hardly
ever do?


Mark


On Feb 3, 2011, at 4:13 AM, BenT Syncro wrote:

> I might have not assumed your column cover needed repairs where they
> are commonly cracked at the clip had you been more specific about
> the damage on your cover.;-) Have never seen any column covers crack
> at the screws in the 30+ Vanagons I've owned. I have seen them
> damaged on my B4 Passat though. The repair consisted of finding a
> suitable washer larger than the damaged hole. That would not help a
> split piece.
>
> The covers are relatively easy to find and inexpensive around my
> area. It would likely cost me more money buying epoxy glue in an
> attempt to repair the area than it would cost to buy a replacement.
> Last time I needed to replace a missing cover, a local shop sold me
> the piece for $3. They even threw in the map light as long as I took
> them off myself. When the attachment clip is missing, they just give
> them to me for free. Screws or rivets fixes them better than new.
>
> Now, you didn't mention color. Brown ones are just starting to
> become scarce. Black ones are still plentiful.
>
>
> BenT