Tina:
Welcome to the wonderful world of Vanagon ownership! = You will find this to be a great community and a terrific = resource. I have yet to talk to or meet a List member that I = didn't think was really a great person. That being said, let me = give you my $0.02 worth on some of your questions:
#1 - Head gaskets on a wasserboxer (water-cooled = Vanagon) are a plague. Blown head gaskets are a known problem, = especially if the cooling system is not maintained properly. Did = you buy this van from a VW dealer? Was the coolant in the = reservoir blue, orange, green, or what color? Bottom line, the = head gaskets should NOT have blown in less than a year, unless you = drive 80,000 miles a year and don't change the coolant.
#2 - With rare exceptions, you are probably better = off NOT having the car worked on by the dealer, unless you are forced = to because of the warranty. Even then, I would suggest that you = do research and go to them well armed with information about exactly = what you think the problem is and how they should address it. = (The list can be very helpful with this)
#3 - The sagging is common on Westies. Almost = all lean to the drivers side due to the weight of the cabinets and = camping equipment. The only solution that I know of is to replace = the springs (or have them re-stretched by a spring shop). I have = some mild leaning in my Syncro Westy, and I am in the process of = replacing the springs partly for this reason.
There are a lot of list members in the Sea-Tac area, = I am sure you can find some help. Good luck and welcome to the = list.
Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA
-----Original Message-----
From: tina [mailto:tina@BENTONREA.COM]=
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2000 5:25 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: can someone help me?
hi,
I have a 1990 vanagon camper GL and I =
purchased it from a dealer (yes, I paid to much) anyway, I am =
getting it from the shop today cuz it had a blown head gasket. I =
was told they were new when I purchased the van. I have kept up =
on all the maintenance and found it odd that it was blown since they =
were new (a year ago). I have an extended warranty on it, but it =
will end soon. The other thing is.. it sags a bit to the left (where =
all the cabinets/fridge/stove etc are.) You can tell from looking =
at the vehicle from the back. Is there suppose to be a sag due to =
the weight? or is it really suppose to be perfectly even & =
straight?
What I really need is someone to take a look = at it & tell me what all should be fixed. or what parts need = replacing. It is my first van and I really LOVE it. I just = don't want to get screwed out of fixing or replacing what should be = fixed/replaced before my warranty runs out...considering I paid quite a = bit for the van it should be in tip top shape & I want to be sure = it is before my warranty is out.
I am in eastern WA between Tri-cities & Yakima.&nb= sp; If there is anyone out there who would be willing to take a look = for me, I will pay them. or, if you know of someone who would, PLEASE = PLEASE let me know.
thanks,
tina
90 vanagon camper GL