Date:         Tue, 7 Sep 1999 18:10:58 -0600
Reply-To:     Zach Daudert <zdaudert@PEOPLEPRODUCTIONS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Zach Daudert <zdaudert@PEOPLEPRODUCTIONS.COM>
Subject:      Re: advice on buying - mechanic's report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Well, if $6000 was too much yesterday, it's WAY too much today.

The VW shop I took the bus into today gave it a thumbs down too.

Apparently it's making strange engine noises that he thinks indicates low
oil pressure.  I haven't driven these vanagons enough yet to notice
something out of the ordinary.  Mysteriously when the engine/transmission
was replaced 85k miles ago, or perhaps sooner, the wiring harness to the oil
pressure switch is missing!?  Verner the mechanic thinks that the noise is
related to the valve train.  I opted not to spend the extra $50 for an oil
pressure test; I had heard enough.

The other things he noticed were:

original fuel lines were present and should be replaced

compression 130-130-125-130

cylinder head gaskets dry

sterring rack probably replaced, right steering rack sleeve has been
twisted, but is still intact

shifting problems, over-rides reverse lock out


So I'm still looking

Zach


>Hey thanks to everyone for responding about the '85 Westy......
>
>I've decided to have it taken into a shop today and looked over.  I figure
>for the $60 i'm a lot safer and it might give me more price barganing
power.
>
>The concensous it that $6000 is too much for the car.  I'm in Boulder,
>Colorado, so these campers are pretty popular - i'd guess there are a lot
of
>buyers.  There was a $5800 '85 at a used car dealership that sold in less
>than a day; before I could look at it (now you all know where to come if
you
>ever need to unload your Westy).  A few people were concerned about the
tent
>tears; they're really minor (small).  I've replaced the tent in my '71
Westy
>and don't want that hassle again for sure.
>
>I've looked at other 85's around here and was NOT impressed at all.  One
>that was selling for $5500 had lots of rust, seemed like the propane system
>was not working, and other wierd things.
>
>Anyway I'm off to take her to the shop.  I'll let the list know how that
>goes.  This has been extremely helpful; I certainly didn't think about a
lot
>of the issues that were mentioned to me.  Now i'm really confused!  I'll
>check my mail at work all day before I talk to the seller tonight.
>
>Thanks
>
>Zach