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Date:         Thu, 3 Feb 2011 05:08:18 -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:  <CC33767A-54EC-401F-BB91-4FBDAD0BCF87@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Ben,

So the answer to my original question is to find vulnerable parts that have been gently used, and continue to use them gently?

Mark

On Feb 3, 2011, at 4:52 AM, BenT Syncro wrote:

> Mark, > > Most are likely impact damage. Door starts to close. Driver > instinctively kicks it open -- at the map pockets. Newbie owner > tries to remove or adjust column cover and doesn't realize there are > screws holding it in place. Brake fluid reservoir -- it's not made > of steel. Don't over tighten and they should not break. Ever seen > paint scratches on the hardened paint finish on door handle recess > in most cars? They endure the same sharp nail attacks by driver's > opening doors. People with big Carat Diamond Rings make some very > interesting scratches on car parts. The inside handle inserts should > have removed more gingerly. Visor clips are in the sun all the time. > When the driver was surprised by sudden change of terrain and > subsequent exposure to the setting sun, grabs sunvisor hard and > voila. Cracked. Heater control panel? That's a first for me. > > These plastics have survived well into their expected service life. > Cars are rarely designed to last a lifetime. They should have am age > multiplier. Sort of like dog years. Let's say 1:4. Parts life would > be multiplied by four compared to our life expectancy. A 20 year old > car would then be about 80 in 'Vanagon years'. You don't really > expect every part of your body will survive daily battles unscathe, > did you? Looking at my chest, I have three yellowish bruises from an > overzealous fencer from my saber lessons last week. I'm feeling like > a well used plastic door handle. > > > BenT > > Sent from my mobile device > > On Feb 3, 2011, at 4:27 AM, "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET > > wrote: > >> 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 >>


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