Two of the big wear items that people forget about until they fail are 1. Hoses, 2. Radiator. These are often overlooked and could prove fatal if they failed when a friend or someone was driving the van who wasn't paying attention (let it overheat and then toast city). Hoses just go bad with time. The rubber just gets old and I would say that 10 years is probably the life limit on rubber hoses no matter how low the mileage is. Actually the more the van sits the worse it is the the rubber because dry rot sets in. If you are in a high salt area or if your vehicle has a bunch of miles on it the radiator is another life limited item. With all the expanding and contracting and pressure on them and heat they just wear out over time. Do a visual exam of the radiator at the lower corners to check for corrosion. When I went to buy a new radiator for my '84 Vanagon a couple years back every body wanted $250 for them. Well I get a good deal on the ones I sell so I will pass it on to the list. Mine are OEM replacements not aftermarkets. They are $175 + shipping. This covers all years and models of watercooled Vanagons including diesels. Ken Wilford Van-Again John 3:16 |
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