Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:52:24 -0700
Reply-To: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject: Re: Minimum spares kit. Was: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty
Darn Quick
In-Reply-To: <4E545715.8070104@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
If you look at the German sales listings you often see:
"Der Bus ist lückenlos Scheckheft gepflegt"
Which means that the seller is going to hand over a complete maintenence log book with every VW recommended procedure performed at the right milage. It is hard to sell a bus or any vehicle without a log book.
How many buyers look for that in North America? The wife's Toyota was bought from a small used car dealer who bought it on an auction. No idea what the previous owner did. Even brand name dealers we visited wouldn't provide maintenance records.
Yet, the best "spare part" to carry might be the log book, and make sure all specified maintenance is done, note any oddities in handling, noise or whatever during driving so they get fixed before the next big trip and aren't forgotten until the bus stops.
My dad has a background in aerospace. In the 20 years I lived at home we had exactly one mechanical issue on the road (leaking rear brake line). I guess in aviation you get it imprinted to do the maintenance *before* takeoff.
I'm not nearly as vigilant, but I did redo almost everything mechanical on my '82 Westy in 1999. After that it ran flawlessly for a decade. Now it is time for work again. (If someone did statistics on the list they might find a bump in my posting frequency 10 years ago and another one now...)
Martin (and '82 Westy "Poppie")
----- Original Message -----
From: mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Cc:
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 7:42:45 PM
Subject: Re: Minimum spares kit. Was: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
Too tedious of a topic to cover fully. What all to carry largely depends
on how the vehicle is going to be used and then how capable the owner is
of determining what is wrong and fixing it with parts on-board. I carry
stuff that most people don't and I wouldn't expect very many others to
follow my lead. It is not that I worry so much about actually needing
them as that I realize I could be greatly delayed in obtaining them if
they were needed while I was in a remote spot. Most of them cost so
little if purchased in advance that I just consider it a low cost
insurance policy to have them along. Since I do all my own work anyway
and have a lifetime commitment to multiple Vanagon ownership they will
get used someday.
While decent maintenance is requirement number one, I think most
Vanagons should carry a few specific items that are well known common
and/or abrupt failure points. I think all regular Vanagon drivers should
know how to install them too.
headlight switch
ignition switch
regulator/brush assembly for alternator
belt for water pump/alternator
fuel filter
ECU, tested
Also should have for traveling:
volt meter
6 feet of #12 red wire
6 feet of #12 black wire
4 each of crimp on insulated ends, blue color, 1/4" male spade, 1/4"
female spade, 5/16" ring, butt splices
inline ATC fuse holder and 15 amp fuses
The list has no real end but this is a start. Tools are needed for most
of the parts to be of much use.
Mark
mcneely4@cox.net wrote:
> so, mark, what is your list of the must, or at least really should carry items? ......................
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