Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 13:11:48 -1000
Reply-To: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: brake and clutch fluid reservoirs
In-Reply-To: <20141116085308.N07L8.377378.imail@eastrmwml303>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
I heartily disagree about the location being inconvenient.
( 'hidden' yes ...and many german things force one to adopt THEIR way
..not uncommon in german-designed cars actually ..
consider the valve hidden under the back seat for rear heater core
coolant flow ..now that one *really* is odd ! ..
it's a recognized factoid that 55 % of vanagon owners who are not in
vanagon online groups are fully unware of that valve and its operation )
The BF res ..you can check the level in flight if you want even ! .not
recommnended for safety reasons of course.
and ..here is THE Main Reason that's a wonderful location for a brake
fluid res and master cylinder..
Vanagons are about the only car on the planet in which you can bench
bleed the brake master cylinder lines in place by yourself ..super handy ! .
of course..it's cheating to read the vehicle's Owner's Manual ..( re
resevior location )
always remove the Owner's Manual from the glove box and loose it
somewhere where you'll never find it again.
lol..I 've had someone bring me a Honda to work on ..
a couple that drove their infant around in the car ..
the guy said 'just ignore the brake warning light ...must be the switch
for the parking brake handle is wonky'.
I said ..'Honda's don't do that ..some other cars do, but not Honda's. '
I get the car ..their is 1/8th inch of filter black brake fluid in the
bottom of the brake fluid res.
The owner's manual is in the car..
it says 'if that light stays on , check the brake fluid level. if it's
low, top it up, and take the car in for repairs. "
I ask the woman if she ever read the owner's manual ...she just laughed.
it's a good thing they wisely decided to bring the car in for service..
the valve clearances...suppossed to be adjusted ever 30K miles ..had not
been done in 200,000 miles.
They likely would have had a 'total loss of brakes' if they didn't get
that car into me for service.
it's noteworthy that on the next van after the Vanagon..the Eurovan
.....the brake warning light is big, bright, and in the center of the dash.
( I have one I really like ....don't want to but I really should sell it ..
1993 Eurovan MV pop-top, 5 speed manual trans , 2.5 liter inline 5 gas
engine ....running.
Located in Southern Oregon. Great interior ...perfect top tent
...excellent seats . Currently repairing rust damage which I am very
good at and is actually fun and easy if ya know how. New 15 inch tires
on stock steel wheels...set of alloy 15' inch wheels available. It's
that Tourgquise color ..quite nice actually. $ 2,000 and I don't want
to sell it really, but I should. )
On 11/16/2014 3:53 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> Someone on here recently asked what the brake and clutch fluid reservoirs on the Vanagon are, and someone else replied reminding us all of the location of the brake fluid reservoir.
>
> Of course, for anyone who has ever owned any other vehicle, the location is truly odd. As one who is compulsive about checking fluid levels, especially when preparing to depart for an extended drive, the location is quite inconvenient. One might even say the location creates a safety hazard, as it makes it less likely that folks will check these fluids regularly.
>
> Of course, others might say that so long as their is no operational problem, then why check them. But both these hydraulic systems can operate perfectly well while experiencing a slow leak. Then one day they fail as the level drops further.
>
> Why are these tanks where they are?
>
> David McNeely
>
