Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 10:16:54 -0700
Reply-To: Amanda Shank <amanda@LAKEEFFECTDOGS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Amanda Shank <amanda@LAKEEFFECTDOGS.COM>
Subject: Re: CV Joint boots & Power Door locks
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
"I read the list of things New Owners should do and am working my way
through it."
Where is this list located?
~Amanda Shank
amanda@lakeeffectdogs.com
www.lakeeffectdogs.com
*Announcing your plans is a great way to hear God laugh*
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Lowe" <james.lowe@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 10:03 PM
Subject: CV Joint boots & Power Door locks
The persons with insecurities list? Do you think they'd let me join? What
if I'm not good enough?
I recently acquired a 1987 Synchro GL. I love this van. She is, however,
in need of some TLC to get everything working again. Motor & trans seem to
be in good shape (not real powerful, though).
One of my first projects was to fix the power door locks. None of them
worked. The only glimmer of hope that I had was the passenger door motor
operated whenever I locked or unlocked this door. I pulled the driver's
door motor drive assembly out and took it apart. I found lots of corrosion
on the copper and evidence of water infiltration. After cleaning it up I
pulled it back in and it worked! I did the same for the sliding door and
the rear hatch. There was no sign of water in these units, but the motors
wouldn't run so I took them out of the case and attached a 12V battery
directly to the motor leads and they worked, too. I think they were just a
little stiff from non-use. After getting everything back together I could
lock and unlock all my doors with one turn of the key as those fine German
engineers had intended. The only problem is, whenever I use any door other
than the drivers door to lock or unlock the van the lock motors will cycle
endlessly until the door is closed. At which time they return to the same
position as the driver's door lock (either locked or unlocked). The
Driver's door lock is not activated by the other locks. This doesn't seem
right to me so I was wondering if anyone else has dealt with this before?
Also, I read the list of things New Owners should do and am working my way
through it. I've already replaced the left rear CV Joint. My mechanic
advised that the left front boot was torn and that joint would go in 10,000
miles or so. There is no sign of trouble now. I'm wondering if it is
inevitable that the joint will fail because the boot is torn, or if I can
repair the boot and extend the life of the joint? Has anyone repaired a CV
Joint Boot?
All advice welcome.
Thanks,
Jim Lowe
'87 Synchro GL
