Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 13:23:23 -0500
Reply-To: Martin Jagersand <jager@PEREGRINE.CS.JHU.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Martin Jagersand <jager@PEREGRINE.CS.JHU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Westfalia Camper Van
From: <forrestji@monroe.army.mil>
> Hi. I wrote you before from Germany. Now I am in Ft. Monroe, VA... which
> is near Newport News, VA or Norfolk, VA. I am having an 1985 Westfalia VW
> Van shipped from Germany. It will be delivered in Baltimore, MD. When I
> get it I will need to have someone pick it up and fix this and that before I
> can drive it off. First, it is overheating. I have replaced the radiator
> hose, and removed the thermostat, and am told it MIGHT be the water pump. I
> also need to get a leak in the power steering unit fixed or replace the
> unit. In addition, I need to get it checked out and see what else I might
> be able to use that you might have on hand. I did not hear from you before.
> Might be because I did not give you my email address:
>
> My military address is : forrestji@monroe.army.mil
Hello. Sorry for not writing back immediately. I was out of the country.
First I need to clarify that I don't do VW mechanics for a living. I'm
a research scientist at Johns Hopkins. But as a VW enthusiast I often
end up talking to other likes or trying to help out as long as it fits my
work schedule and life.
I just moved to Baltimore myself, and I haven't scooped out the mechanics
and parts situation here. I'm forwarding this to the vanagon list in
the hopes that someone else will know and can give you some pointers.
You can also check with Ken Wilford. He's a mechanic specializing in
Vanagons and on the email list. See http://www.vanagain.com/
Only problem is that he's a bit far away in NJ . About 1h from here.
If you like to feel free to visit when you pick up your Westy.
Good luck,
Martin
PS: Removing the water pump is generally not a good idea and can
actually worsen an overheating problem. There are two coolant loops;
one bypassing the radiator and one through it. With no thermostat
both are open and because of the longer lines and thus more friction
most of the coolant water may take the bypass route and not go through
the radiator.
--
Westy 1.9l Turbo Diesel
Quantum 1.6l Turbo Diesel
New and used parts for sale, gas and Diesel:
http://www.cs.yale.edu/~jag/vw/forsale.html
Martin Jagersand email: jagersand@cs.jhu.edu
Vision & Robotics lab, CS Dept jag@cs.yale.edu
Johns Hopkins University WWW: www.cs.jhu.edu/~jager
Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
-------------------------------------------------------------------
