Date:         Tue, 20 Jun 2000 22:33:45 -0700
Reply-To:     harald_nancy <harald_nancy@earthlink.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         harald_nancy <harald_nancy@earthlink.net>
Subject:      Re: Advice for a long road trip
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Doug,
Sounds like your camper is in pretty good shape.
The thing to be the most concerned about are probably the cyl.
head gaskets. Also the heads can develop cracks. I strongly
suggest that you take off the pushrod tube covers, or have somebody
else take them off for you, and take a close look at the cyl.head
rubber seal from under the engine. Imagine you are Sherlock Holmes
with a magnifying glass. Look for small specks of green stuff around the
edges of the gaskets. Especially at the front and rear corners. Take
your time. If you see any green stuff at all, on or around the gaskets,
(even if it's only on one side) have them both replaced.
I strongly suggest that you do this inspection yourself.

A few other not so important things that might help:
A lower temperature 80 deg. thermostat, new coolant hoses
in the engine compartment, at least the small ones that come
close to the muffler by the oil cooler. Replace the plastic coolant elbow
on
the right cyl. head rear with the improved metal one, have new bearings
and Bosch regulator installed in the alternator, replace the front brake
hoses, or at least get a set from the B.D.(good price) and take them along.

Change the power steering fluid, (I use ATF dextr.III) check for
leaks. In an emergency, van can be driven without the P.S. You can
take off the belt and use armstrong. Consider new shocks.
Tell the mechanic to put some extra moly. grease in the CV joints.
Tell them to use a needle, but not to make a hole in the boot.
One can inject extra grease by sliding a small screwdriver between
the driveshaft and the boot. Then take the grease needle and inject
some extra grease in the opening.
Check the front suspension and power steering boots.
Pressure test the cooling system. Good way to find leaks
around coolant hose connections.
Take duct tape and clear plastic, in case a window breaks,
and get some plexiglass covers for the head lamps.
Enjoy your trip.
Btw, the best place to carry a new spare part is where it
has to do its job. Saves space.
Harald
90 westy
---------
> From: Doug Hornberger <DHornberg@aol.com>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Advice for a long road trip
> Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 6:15 PM
>
> Hello Everyone,
> My wife and I will be traveling throughout the US and Mexico for three
> months. The total trip should be between 18,000 and 20,000 miles. Knowing
> what a great source of information, knowledge and experience this site
is, I
> wanted to ask for any suggestions/advice/experience with regard to
preparing
> my Vanagon for this trip.
>
> First let me give some history on our Vanagon. We own a 1991 Vanagon GL
> Camper, 2.1L with 90,000 miles. I am the 3rd owner, 1st owner is unknown
and
> had the vehicle from 0-60K miles, 2nd owner had from 60,000 to 85,000
miles,
> and took very good care of the vehicle (regular maintenance, kept
records,
> etc.). I have owned it for the last 9 months and have put on about 5k
miles.
> I had the front and rear brake pads changed, freon put into the system,
had
> overall check and maintenance done by local VW dealership and garage.
They
> told me the van checked out in excellent shape. For this trip I am having
> installed an auxiliary battery, inverter, 30 amp recharger, Carver P4
heater,
> auxiliary propane tank. In addition I have installed a Catalina 2500
awning,
> Thule rack and storage box, and Fiamma bike rack.
>
> What I am trying to do with this posting is prepare/anticipate any
mechanical
> difficulties that may be common to the 1991 Vanagon between 90,000 and
> 120,000 miles based on your experience. Also, I am looking for any
> suggestions or "pearls of wisdom" to make this trip go smoothly with
regard
> to the Vanagon.
>
> I have 5 areas I would like to ask your suggestions/recommendations on.
>
> 1) Based on the history of our Vanagon given above, what mechanical
failures,
> if any, might I expect in the 90,000 to 120,000 mileage range and is
there
> any preemptive measures I can take to avoid these problems? For example,
it
> has been suggested to me that I have a new clutch installed based on the
> mileage. Another person suggested at 90,000 to 120,000 the heads might
start
> to give me a problem. Any thoughts or suggestions to these or other
issues
> you might have experienced?
>
> 2) It has been recommended that since VW parts may be scarce in some
parts of
> Mexico I should take the following items: Spare Alternator, Power
Steering
> Pump, Replacement Belts, Fuses, Spark Plugs/Wires, Oil and Fuel filters.
Are
> there any other parts (mechanical or otherwise) you think I might want to
> carry with me?
>
> 3) I have a friend who has experienced the "Westy Buck." Can anyone shed
> light on this subject and/or give recommendations on how to avoid having
this
> happen?
>
> 4) Any general comments/thoughts I should be aware of with regard to the
> Vanagons performance in the 90,000-120,000 mileage range?
>
> 5) Since this is the 1st trip we will be taking for this length of time,
any
> general comments/thoughts/suggestions on how to make this trip as trouble
> free as possible, mechanical or otherwise? (Yes, my wife and I am very
> compatible, therefore one possibility down).
>
> Thank you for any help you might have to offer pertaining to any or all
of
> these questions, it will be of great help.
>
> Sincerely,
> Doug Hornberger
> 1991 Westfalia Vanagon "Romer"