Date:         Sat, 31 Mar 2012 14:12:24 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Reliability or something else? was Oil Pressure Switch
              ....gone
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2012033115062851@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Sat, Mar 31, 2012 at 12:06 PM, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:

> At  3/31/2012 10:18 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>
>>  But if I could get what I want, then no more Vanagon.  Who wants
>> to be trying to trouble shoot a failure in a downpour, or on the
>> side of a freeway?  Of course, I try to keep it up to snuff, to
>> minimize that, and I must say I've never had it happen.  But
>> .......... .  and I really don't like to be always fixing
>> something.  I want to get out an enjoy where I want to be.
>>
>> Good luck with yours, mcneely
>>
>
>
>
> The best chance on how to prevent troubleshooting a failure in a down
> pour and/or on the side of a freeway?
>
> Ok, I can answer that. A Vanagon with a Subaru engine and manual
> windows. Seriously.
>
>
> Other changes that "I" think would be great?
> Manual window on the drivers side & a power window on the passenger side.
> Windows that open in the way back next to the passenger(s).
> Maybe a light over the sliding door opening? This is something I
> haven't seen but I have heard of and might be worth the time to
> engineer & install. Be real nice if you could do the on/off from in
> back OR up front.
>
> Things we might have already that  are important? The rear window
> defroster, heated mirrors, map light for the passenger over the glove
> box & the sky light/roof vent if you camp in your Vanagon.
>
>
  Dave says it has never happened to him with his vanagon...The midnight
rainy roadside repair.
But he still worries it might...

 In my humble opinion, that very scenario (the roadside repair) is one of
the best reasons I have for owning my vanagon....if that DOES happen...I ,
me alone, can usually do the repair, probably with just a small toolbox of
hand tools and some stuff I have onboard or I can get the parts sent
'overnight express' and then fix the thing myself.   I need no Dealer
computer to re-flash a new program or to clear faults.  I don't need an
expensive total module replacement after a long flatbed ride to the dealer
and a few nights in a hotel room while the dealer gets the part or Module
from the Whatever Distributor at an exorbitant price....

 Yes, it is less likely to have a roadside repair needed with a newer
vehicle.. But .I'd say, realistically,  most newer vehicle aren't possible
to Owner-fix on the roadside, or in a gas station in a small town as you
travel...They ain't made that way....And they still do break or screw
up....that is why everyone buys those lame Extended Service Plans along
with a newer vehicle....so that when it does happen, you are just out your
time, and of course, your adventure or commute is done for...but you don't
have to pay another arm and leg to get the thing fixed, cause you already
paid extra 'just in case'

   I have about 70k miles of traveling on my Vanagon now, so far.  I have
had two roadside repair incidents in that time, an alternator failure and a
split coolant hose...I did only pay $3000 for my vanagon....probably about
what you might pay to have an alternator failure on a Sprinter or something
fixed while traveling...

   As Rob says,  I put a decent motor in..and like Dave has done, I do the
preventative maintenance beforehand...but then I head out confident that in
most cases my van is fixable by a normal human without having to re$ort to
dealer diagnostics and their 'flat rate' repair schedule...

  Don Hanson