Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 13:33:40 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Moan when turning
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
yes..no kidding !
given that..
likely it's low fluid in the res.
a few hints..
it's addressed in the Owners Manual.
If you open your engine compartment ..
you'll see on the top right the v-belt driven alternator.
below that on the right, a Power steering pump ..
also driven by it's own v-belt.
follow those hoses to the resevoir..
a white plastic can.
check the level in there.
you can also eyeball it quickly through the liceense plate door.
drive a vanaogn without power steering sometime..
big difference at low speed.
if you happen to have non-working or removed PS ..
but still have the smaller PS steering wheel...effort will be quite high.
might find out about the brake fluid res too ..
it's under the cover for the instruments.
no offense...these are not idiot proof vans.
they require a degree of care and understanding.
they don't do well with 'just drive it' ..
and they don't do well with gettin fixed when they break ..
sure ..that'll fix the one system that finally failed...
but that's not really taking care of one .
they love service ..
change fluids ...
inspect and lube things.
there is a filter screen in the bottom of the PS res ..
few people ever check it.
The PS on vanagons 'lasts well' ..
but not like on some cars ..
it would be good to check the sceen in the res..
put in some fresh ATF ( owner's manual tells you this ) and ad a high
quality power steering treatment and stop leak, like Lucas brand.
generally ..
if you wait until 'there are symptoms' on vanagon power steering systems
before doing anything ..
it can already be too late. Hopefully some service and fresh fluid and
you'll be all right.
Damn I should right a book on basics..
because ...checking most of this stuff is very easy and basic ..
but you can't count on most shops to do it really right for you ..
they are just looking for 'justifyable profitable repairs' ..
Has nothing to do with caring for your van or your wallet really.
near criminal almost , not always ..but sometimes. and not all shops, but
many. In my opinion the common standard of workmanship and 'actually
serving' in regular automtive professional shops
is pathetic. And it's so much more fun to do a great job for people instead
!!
and the little things make so much difference..
but if the owner doesn't tend to them, I don't know who will. Shame too,
the vans are so great and respond so nicely to just reasonable care and
understanding.
yeah...check your fluids.
it's the operator's responsibilty to check all that stuff ..including tire
pressure , that the spare is not flat etc. ( I have seen exactly ONE shop in
my entire career that will check that the spare is not flat as part of a
regular service. )
Heck..tire stores will sell whole sets of 4 tires ..and never even check the
spare ..
and advise that it's unsafe due to being 15+ years old.. ( and probably 6
psi in it anyway ) ...
There are exceptions ..but you really can not really trust many automotive
professionals to really look after your car situation responsibly ...like
advise you carefully and spend your $ wisely. Sad to say.
I see so much sloppy car repair that it makes me want to do an 'Unsafe at
Any Speed' Ralph Nader book on it. Do not trust that they say ...put the
right tire pressures in.
Heck many tires stores sell 'car' tires to vanagon owners !
Anything that's been touched or worked on is automatically suspect until
you really know otherwise. My own local LS tire store couldn't even mount
my friends winter tires right. Real shame.
sorry ..check them fluids sir !
scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 12:46 PM
Subject: Re: Moan when turning
> You almost certainly do have power steering. It would have had to be
> removed
> by a previous owner not to be there. You might want to open the engine
> bay
> and acquaint yourself with the contents! ;)
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 11:50 AM, David M <covrambles@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> My daily driver 1987 Wolfsburg has developed a moan/groan when turning,
>> its
>> worst when turning right. It sounds almost like low power steering fluid
>> except I don't have power steering right?
>>
>> -David
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX - 'The Grey Van'
> 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Subie - 'Dixie'
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
