Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1998 08:10:40 -0500
Reply-To: Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Subject: Re: 4WD stuck
In-Reply-To: <363D0E39.6D96@idt.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
1. Rear diff lock is stuck on, or... (Eric Zeno)
2. Water and dirt got into the front diff and you must get it out,
or... (Tim Smith)
3. VC somehow trashed. In this case:
a. Remove driveshaft while you decide what to do (duh)
b. Order through me a brand new VC from Germany for about $700 or
$800 (I am going to do a group order at some point)
c. Order through a dealer a brand new VC for about $1,700
(Cambelback)
d. Order a rebuilt one through Wheedle for about $700 (Premier
national source for syncro drivetrain)
e. Buy a used front diff at a junk yard for about $900 (Good luck
tracking one down)
At 01:43 AM 11/2/98 +0000, you wrote:
>Listees,
>
>I've been through the archives under "viscous coupling" but I still
need
>some help from you all if you would be so kind.
>
>I was out 4-wheeling around in the desert, forded an 18-inch deep
stream
>a few times, and when I got back on the pavement, the steering
felt
>strange. It felt like the van was stuck in 4WD. The steering was
>fighting me, wanting to steer itself. Back in the city, it is so
>pronounced that the front tires chirp from a start with the wheels
>turned. (I never thought I'd ever burn rubber in a Vanagon). This
is
>not just the previous normal scrubbing when making a full-lock
circle.
>It feels like the viscous coupling might be locking up WAY
prematurely.
>But then it releases somewhat; it's not full-on stuck.
>
>Derek Drew, Jim Davis, Tim Smith, you are my Syncro gurus. What do
I do
>now? Is this what it's like when the VC fails? Are there
rebuilts
>available? Can the fluid be replaced? What do replacements cost?
Do
>Kyle or Ron sell these items? Is it damaging to the van to keep
driving
>it like this?
>
>(BTW, I KNOW I've seen posts on this fluid and/or rebuilt topic,
but
>they don't show up on an archive search. Sorry.)
>
>Thanks in advance for your help. And thanks for making this such
a
>great list.
>
>John Welsh, San Diego
>87 Syncro Westfalia GL
>81 Triumph TR8
>
_______________________________________________
Derek Drew New York, NY & Washington DC
ConsumerSearch
drew@interport.net
212-580-6486, 202-966-7907 (Work)
212-580-4459; 202-966-0938 (Home)
(cell: 917-848-6425)
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