Date:         Tue, 5 Sep 2017 21:31:49 -0400
Reply-To:     Stephen Engel <sengel543@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Engel <sengel543@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: unusual cause of engine problems
Comments: To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CACvdLxPFS4nYg=J=WtBa+GkZq4Auv=ND21TP65ejPU1fptEuhg@mail.gmail.com>
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Behind the tail lights is a popular place for mouse houses on my van. I've yet to remove my dashboard.

Steve
87 Syncro

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 5, 2017, at 8:43 PM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Thought I should pass this along.  A friend had an unusual cause for engine
> problems on a recent camping trip.  He parked his camper (2001 Volkswagen
> Eurovan Weekender, blue) for five days without moving it at a back country

> cabin in the Malheur National Forest (he went there for the recent eclipse,
> and I was with him along with several other friends and family members).
> 
> As he made his way back to Southern California via U.S. 395, his power
> steering belt broke, and upon examination he discovered a mass of sticks in
> the engine compartment, and a dead wood rat. The sticks were the rat's
> nest.  Further, he had a newly developed oil leak, where one of the sticks

> had punctured a seal, I suppose while being flung about by the broken belt.
> 
> He was able to get the van to a competent mechanic in Lakeview, Oregon (or

> Lakeview, California, I'm not sure I got that part right), but had to wait

> four days for the parts to get there (not sure where he got them).
> 
> Moral, after parking your Vanagon or other vehicle for several days
> (especially in localities frequented by wood rats), check for rat's nests.

> 
> mcneely