Date:         Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:10:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Kendra Calhoun <kendracalhoun@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kendra Calhoun <kendracalhoun@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Need fuel pump advice. I also learned an effective way for
              getting rusty parts off!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hey Vanagoners! The 82 vanagon has made it almost 15,000 miles around the
country with only a few problems... had to get a couple CV axles replaced,
spark plugs, new spark plug wires, a new wheel cylinder that was leaking
brake fluid. The only problems with these fixes were the presence of rust
and after 5 different mechanics tried and failed to replace the axles, one
kind hobbyist in the middle of the night was able to do the job by torching
the bolt and spraying anti-freeze on it... then it came right off. That's
my newly learned tip for getting rusty parts off. So 15,000 miles around
the country were pretty good, slow, but good, but in the last 500 miles
we've broken down 6 times and been towed 3. Thanks AAA. The latest problem
the mechanic (Lincoln, NE) is having a hard time figuring out.

Yesterday, about 10 miles east of getting the wheel cylinder replaced, the
van started loosing power on the highway. I figured it was overheating,
especially since the ventilation system recently stopped working because
the fan can't be adjusted to 1,2 or 3. I let her cool down for about an
hour but still once cool she wouldn't start, the engine turns over for
about a second then dies.

THEN I heard a humming from a rubber hose underneath and noticed it was
vibrating, for several hours when the van was off, no keys in the ignition.
Some research shows that it has something to do with the fuel pump, maybe
an electrical problem, but I can't figure out what the repair will have to
be nor can the import mechanic I took it to.

I didn't have a smartphone or very many local recommendations to go by, so
I just took it to the nearest import mechanic off of the highway. I think
if I had a little vanagon list advice that I can share with him, we might
be able to fix whatever is wrong and get ourselves home to Chicago.

What do you all think?

Kendra!