Date:         Mon, 25 May 1998 11:29:29 -0700
Reply-To:     Björn <bratjen@DIRECT.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Björn <bratjen@DIRECT.CA>
Subject:      back from syncroing, alternator, engine hesitation, wishlist
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hello Volks,

I spent a couple of days with myself, my Syncro and mother nature. It
involved intense backcountry travel, steep washouts, riverbed travel, bears,
spending time inside big trees, etc. I had a good time. As I sat under the
roots of a large cedar and was watching my surroundings I came up with my
wisdom of the last day:
"From inside a tree a slug travels with amazing speed."

Before I started the alternator light began to light up intermittently.
Thanks for those little shops where people can actually fix things. I took
out the alternator (while it was still hot) gave it to a local electric guy
who put new brushes in and installed it in about 30 mins total for a cost of
$15 Can. Done right in the parking lot, no problem.

During my trip I noted a bad transition between slow speed, idle and
acceleration. This can be annoying when you are off the road and have to be
careful with traction. After examination I finally found that the little CO
test cap was missing. It probably has corroded away and I may have knocked
it of with a stone or brush. So the computer got the wrong messages from the
leak.

Two wishes came out of the trip:
1. I would like to be able adjust the computer while driving to change
mixture etc.
2. I want to be able to adjust brake pressure from front to back, because it
it sometimes really annoying when the front wheel do most of the braking on
soft ground and on steep inclines. The parking brake is only a meager help.

Racecars have those options. Anyone got any ideas without spending a fortune?

cheers,

Björn




Björn Ratjen

1987 Syncro Est Alia (self camperized)
1995 Passat TD
(1982 Vanagon Diesel)
1979 VW Bus (self- camperized)