Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 10:57:09 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Subject: Thunk-Thunk in Front
-- [ From: John Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
From a previous personal post: I have a thunk-thunk up front from driving
1350 miles on I-40.
Hi Joel.
I found the thunking up front in my van. The radiator is loose at the top.
Allows the radiator to rock back and forth about 1/4 inch. Every stop and
start causes a thunking sound in front as it moves back and forth.
Can't tell for sure by the Bentley's but it appears the radiator has two
pins--one on each side at the top, that hold the radiator in gross position.
The pins simply slip loosely into a hole in a steel cross piece, then two
cardboard air deflectors - one on each side - slip down between the radiator
and the front frame of the vehicle. There is a button that pops into a hole
in the frame to hold the cardboard in place. It appears these deflectrors
act as wedges of sorts to jam the radiator so it won't move. The one on the
left side(from drivers position) is gone completely, and the one on the
right is coming apart and has lost its rigidity, thereby losing its effect
as a wedge.
Would you mind taking a look at yours and see if I am calling this right. I
would have thought VW would have put a rubber grommet into the hole where
the pin goes, just to secure the pin better. Am I missing other parts as
well as the one deflector?
By the way, the machine is running very well after all the work that was
done back in Birmingham. Roger Mathews over at Rogers Auto Repair in
Bessemmer did a really good job on what he worked on.
Only one other thing...a whine has developed in the rear...and it is
related to the engine, not the transaxle. When the engine is revved the
whine can be heard. Sounds like the whine the old Greyhound and Trailways
buses use to make when they would start off down the road. Only not so loud.
Only hear it when starting off. After reaching speed road noise drowns it
out. This whine has me mystified, but I am suspicious of alternator bearing
problems.
Would appreciate your input. And anyone elses for that matter.
And thanks.
John Rodgers
"88 GL Driver
