Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:16:16 -0700
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: Tranny Whinning in 84 Westy?
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I get called now and then by someone with a car or van with a problem..
and they're asking me if I think they can drive it safely, or without
serious or more damage.
Of course that's a hard call to make sometimes..
I can tell you this though ...
I am often just appalled at how little people recognize really bad things
that are going on.
If they said ........'it makes a tiny noise in 3rd gear, and I just need to
get 250 miles home' ..
I'd probably say if they take it easy, they'll be all right.
and what 'tiny noise' to them is might to me be 'just awful.'
I really do see people driving vanagons , particularly diesel ones ( not
that that applies to the poster here ) with Just Awful things going on ..and
they have 'no idea.'
there is also the factor of ......
The van is safe at home now.
If you want to get an objective look at something like this, pretend it's an
aircraft.
It is actually illegal to embark on a flight with a known defect in an
aircraft.
They are that clear about it. ( depends on what system of course ....but for
sure, a known engine or transmission problem ...any sane person stays on the
ground until it's fixed ) .
and there is risk for you with this trip ..
on the lower end there's damaging the transmission so that it's not even
rebuildable.
Dennis mentioned seizing up ..
unlikely, but that could kill people.
plus ..you're asking opinions when only YOU really have an idea how bad it
is.
If you want support..
I suggest you make your decision yourself ..then say what that is ..
and everyone can say how dumb/reasonable they think that is !
obviously, the safe conservative thing to do is not go on the trip.
In extreme mountaineering and in flying...
it is always a matter of weighing risk.
right now it's like you're asking ......
we're at 7,000 meters in the Himalayas ....were about 99 % exhausted and
food and fuel are very low, and it's 12 hours more climb to the summit
....and weather is forecast to move in.
Do you think we can make the summit and survive and return alive with all
toes and fingers intact ?
I exaggerate, sure, and of course..no one can make that call except you !
And if you waste a transmission ..
that's kinda sad, and will cost you more ..
but if something worse happens, you get stuck somewhere very inconveniently,
or the unlikely happens and someone gets hurt ...I'm sure you follow my
drift.
If there is a woman going on the trip ..ask her. Likely she'll not want
to take a chance on being very inconvenienced, or possibly even endangered
some.
Last line ........there are professional mountaineers that have turned back
400 meters from a 8,000 meter summit, and they were smart, and proud, to
have made that more conservative safer decision.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 8:40 AM
Subject: Re: Tranny Whinning in 84 Westy?
> Be sure to have enough credit card limits to handle the up to 400 mile tow
> back home.
> It is nearly impossible for anyone to guess how long defective parts may
> last especially without the benefit of being there. You know that
> something
> is wrong. You need to decide if the risk is worth the trip. Tranny
> failures
> can also have risks beyond the simple "I got stuck and need a tow".
> Failures
> can even include wheel lock-ups (that is a fun one) and blowing parts
> through the case can make for some oily messes that may have to be cleaned
> up. At the least the longer you drive it defective the more expensive it
> will be to fix it.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> John Jensen
> Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 11:40 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Tranny Whinning in 84 Westy?
>
> Well, I think I understand about the risks of a transmission failure out
> on
> the road. What I'm trying to do is make a rational decision about how to
> schedule the repair. Most of my driving is around town, and very rarely
> more than five miles; but I have a trip on my schedule in two weeks which
> will add up to about 400 miles, I think. I don't have time to make the
> repair before that, so what I'm trying to understand is what my chances
> are
> of successfully getting back with out a failure. Based on what I've been
> hearing from others, I think the chances are good. I guess I'm hoping for
> a
> confirmation of that.
> Best wishes to all.
>
> John Jensen '80 Westy Camper.
> johnjensen@johnjensenartist.com
> http://www.johnjensenartist.com
> bluesbug@verizon.net
>
>
> On 9/18/2011 10:31 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> Just keep in mind that when it fails completely you will need to be
>> towed and the repairs will be much more expensive if the box can even
>> be rebuilt after the busted pieces make a mess of things.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -
