Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 23:28:47 -0500
Reply-To: Carl Hansen <carl_hansen@IEEE.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Carl Hansen <carl_hansen@IEEE.ORG>
Subject: Re: RV, SU recalls
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
As I recall, having had both done a while ago:
Fuel Injectors: They replace Fuel Infectors AND fuels lines in the engine
compartment. Don't remember why, leaky fuel lines?? Should be straight
forward.
Air Conditioner Ducts: They drop the Air Cond. ducts down from the front
of the van all the way to the back. They do not, to my knowledge, drop the
rear condensor housing, nor do they go into the side pillar. All they do
is replace fender washers that hold up the ducts with a metal plate (maybe
2" x 6") that fits across left to right. At issue was possibilty that
ducts could come down in accidents. (they did when I rolled '90 Carat)
I see no reason not to do either one, however, before you bring in the Van
for the job, carefully check your duct work for ANY cracks, especially in
the corners where the Sun Visors attach. Document what you find, write it
down, take a picture, point it out to your service tech, especially if your
ducts are NOT cracked.
Then before you do so much as even pay for the job check out the
workmanship. Look for the following:
* It's easy to get plastic seals between duct members squished, it's just
as easy to fit them correctly.
* Also check VERY closely, the Sun Visors and the corners of the front
duct. The bracket that screws to the body (left corner drivers side, right
corner passenger side) can be reversed 180 degrees. When the mechanic does
that, and does not correct the situation, just screws down the screws, the
duct work CAN crack in the corner.
The ducts are light enough tht there is no reason you should have to live
with cracks in the corners cause the mechanic wasn't careful.
*********
If the mechanics are half way competent, they shouldn't screw up anything.
Of course, any time I actually have the dealer do work, rather than I do it
myself, I ALWAYS check over what they do, and look for - colateral damage -.
I had my 78 Scirocco in once, for I forget what, and they had droped the
Windshield Washer tank onto the alternator. Not too far down the road, I
was loosing washer fluid thru the hole worn in the tank. Not a big deal,
but I didn't feel I should have paid to replace the tank.
BOTTOM lINE:
Now I always check for loose pieces, not tight bolts and nuts, any thing
out of place, and anything not as it should seem.
<<SNIP>> Original messag, with comments added.
I received a recall notice on my '90 vanagon, codes RV, SU.
My AC is in need of a recharge. Since I don't know where the leak is should I
try to have that fixed while they "Secure" the ducts, or will they be opening
the pillar?
**NOT RELATED, IF YOU ASK, THERE IS NO SAVINGS IN TIME DUE TO THE RECALL.
RECALL IS ONLY THE OVERHEAD DUCT WORK THAT CARRY AIR.**
I remember several posts about black debris from deteriorating seals. Will
these be replaced, or should I specifically request that?
**DON"T KNOW, HAVEN"T HAD THE PROBLEM, AND TO BE HONEST, CAN'T REMEMBER
THAT THERE ARE any SEALS THAT WOULD DETERIORATE IN THE AIR CONDITIONER DUCT
WORK.##
What is the problem with my fuel injectors?
** CAN'T REMEMBER. Maybe it was possible leaky fuel lines.
Ch
'89 SyncroBeast Vanagon
'87 16V GTI
'87 16V GTI w/ hale damage
'89 16V GTI w/ toasted motor
'86 Scirocco (8 valve w/ auto)
'80 850 Yamaha Special
Prior Lake, MinneSnowta
well, ok, it's summer
Land of Sky Blue Waters