Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 16:43:49 -0700
Reply-To: Jeanne Maly <jmmaly@JORDANDREWS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Jeanne Maly <jmmaly@JORDANDREWS.COM>
Organization: Jordan & Andrews
Subject: Buying a Vanagon (Kinda Long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Thanks again to all of you wonderful volks who responded to my questions
about buying a Vanagon/Bus. I am looking very seriously at a '90 Vanagon
"Custom Camper" conversion (59,000 mi.) with the intention of joining the
Vanagon trip to South America in Year 2000. These conversions were done
in Santa Cruz, CA and are quite nice, though the storage is less than in a
Westie. Here's where it stands.
Last Sunday, the owner let me have it all afternoon to look it over and
drive it. This morning I took it in to AAA for diagnostics. Overall the
technician at AAA said he "liked it".
There was absolutely no sign of coolant or oil leaks. (The owner had all
of his receipts/records and let me have them for 2 days! It has been
maintained like clockwork.) The only leakage was a very small amount of
seepage from the power steering - Technician said I should change the
O-rings and check the hose clamps.
There were 3 items of concern in the AAA report:
1. Voltage: The battery voltage was 12.2 and the charging voltage was
12.6. Too low. The owner has had startup problems going back to 12/94:
replaced relay; 10/95: No start: cap, rotor, wires, gap; 5/96: No start:
replaced main battery, rebuilt alternator, battery isolator; 7/96: Startup
problems: dealer couldn't duplicate; 8/96: Startup problem: connector T21
not making good contact; 6/97: alternator charging wire. Question: Does
this sound like an electrical nightmare that will may never end or is it
normal to have something go wrong once a year? A local auto electric place
will inspect it for $19.50. Is it worth 20 bucks just for them to have a
look? Is there someplace on the Website that I should search for this kind
of problem?
2. Rear brake drums were frozen (AAA's words). They recommended I take it
someone else so that if the worst happened when the drums were opened, it
could be repaired. I called the mechanic who works on the van (a
well-respected, factory-trained, German mechanic, I believe). He said
that this was a common problem (something about a ledge or a flap or
something?) and it didn't necessarily mean a brake job, but, of course,
they don't know til they open 'em. The van is approaching time for a
regular maintenance and the mechanic said that he routinely inspects the
brakes. I also called my own regular brake and tire place. They basically
said the same thing, but they didn't say anything about Vanagons frequently
being difficult to open.
3. AAA recommended "Inspect alignment and steering wheel center." Just an
adjustment?
4. Cooling System: While there has apparently never been a history of
overheating, the AAA mechanic noted that the cooling fan didn't come on
during his test drive, though he expected it would. It's darn cool in
California today and I live very close to AAA, so I don't think there is a
problem. It if ain't hot, it don't start.
One more thing, when a friend & I took it out for a test drive on Sunday,
we took it up a pretty good hill. Coming downhill it slipped out of gear.
The AAA mechanic said he tried to get it to slip out and it wouldn't!
Just a fluke? Not really in gear? Whaddya think?
Tillson, the German mechanic, agreed with me that prior to leaving for
South America, I would have to replace the head gaskets, get heavy duty
shocks, and new (heavy-duty) tires, at least.
The owner is asking $13,500. He says that's below low blue book for a
Westie. What do you think of the price? Should I whine a little and try
to get it down?
All opinions will be gratefully accepted. And you can bless me if you
like. I need it!
Jeanne Maly
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