Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 21:42:22 -0700
Reply-To: sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Schwenk <sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Subject: Re: You could be fooled (story of low oil pressure)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Juha, I am as disappointed as you are at the deception
and thievery some minority of people seem willing to
indulge in in nearly, or actually, every job and
profession in order to make a buck. But remember, we
are all animals, and look what other animals do to
survive! Then again, look at what evolution has
equipped some ingeenious animals do to thwart the
efforts of other animals to survive by eating them. I
mean animals like skunks and porcupines and certain
plants and insects, and turtles, and others. We must
adapt and equipp ourselves to deal with the predators
out there so we do not fall prey to their tricks and
schemes. It is our only hope of survival (our vans'
survival).
steve
> Juha Koivisto wrote:
>
> This happens here in TURKU (FINLAND) October 1999.
>
> I tell this story to warn buyers of used VW Vanagon
> even from authorised VW dealer.
>
> My friend bought -90 Synchro 1,6 TD ($8000 USD) from
> Airiston Auto Oy . Short after (few days) he
> noticed oil pressure warning buzzer and led starts to
> alarm on the road. He drove car back and complains
> this. They said 'ok, the pressure sensor has gone,
> we'll change it'. The car was under service two days
> and both sensors, regulator and the dynamic pressure
> sensing pcb was changed. Then it suddenly is fixed.
> My friend asked if they had loosen some wire to solve
> the problem (as for joke)... they said 'Absolutely
> not..now it is ok'. And everything seems to be
> ok..until..
>
> About month later my friend changes oil and filter
> and noticed that there is some wire loose from
> alternator and wrapped to harness. He asked me if I
> knew what it was..and I knew (thanks to the list and
> Bentely manual I own). We connect the wire and..here
> we are again..buzzer and led alarms.
>
> Technical background: If this wire from alternator
> is loose dynamic oil pressure sensor system does not
> know motor is running above 2000 rpm and don't check
> the status of higher sensor while lower pressure
> sensor is still active => everything seems to work
> fine.
>
> My friend go back to the service and asks if they
> have fixed the defect really. After long
> negotiations they admit fooling and say that they
> know all time that the bearing surfaces of
> intermediate axle had worn out and it has to be
> machined. This wearing causes loosing of oil
> pressure. They promise to fix it (this time other
> way) and give him other car meanwhile.
>
> The thing that is still in my mind...
> How many cars have been sold from this shop and
> others all round the world fixed lile this? Is this
> common method (at VW) to fix it? Comments welcome!
>
> Juha Koivisto
> 88 Vanagon (Caravelle) 1,6TD (old school bus with 9
> seats)
> TURKU, FINLAND
| 
