Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 07:40:13 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Something only a Vanagon owner could come up with
In-Reply-To: <000701c59e23$9f7a3f00$6401a8c0@tonyd3sx6g0qyf>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hmmm. "Better yet, call me a Vanagon owner"
I can go with that. I know that feeling. Went through it all for a
while. Engine #1 replaced by the PO sometime between new and 86,000
miles when I bought it. Since then Engine #2 burned a piston at 89,000
miles and was replaced. Engine #3 still running strong at 50,000 engine
miles- 149,000 vehicle miles. . Manual tranny went out and had to be
rebuilt, complete brake job, replaced growling front wheel bearings.
replaced squealing speedo cable, AC tunnel fell and had to have the kit
installed. Rock through the windshield required new glass, sliding door
lock gave up the ghost and was replaced, Several fuel hose leaks
required replacing various fuel lines. Replaced the brake master
cylinder, replaced the clutch master cylinder. Battery cracked and the
resulting acid spill had to be cleaned up. Replaced the headlight mounts
and adjusters which were broken. Replaced the speedometer. Repaired the
instrument pod mounting points. Replaced insturment pod lights.
Replaced HP oil pressure switch after broken belt broke the switch.
Repaired wiring in the engine compartment. Replaced broken window crank.
Replaced all CV's and boots.
All that is past history. My current projects - replace rear heater
control valve, repair broken AC mount adjustment bracket., repair AC
compressor case, overhaul and service AC system, replace power steering
rack and boots. Repair crack in front fiberglas bumper. Prep and
repaint top of van. (white?), replace heater/fresh air control arms in
the dash. Install new rubber and felt in both front doors for the
windows. Troubleshoot and repair front and rear windshield washer pumps.
BTW, my machine is a daily driver - and it has been surprisingly
reliable in that it has not left me stopped on the side of the road for
several years. If I listen to it, it all ways talks to me and tells me
when something needs doing before it quits and leaves me parked in some
inconvenient place.
Yep. I know about being a Vanagon owner. But I wouldn't have it any
other way. My rig is an '88 GL and it doesn't do to bad for a 17 year
old vehicle. And I want to add a Westy as a second vehicle.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Tony Flores wrote:
> Indeed, to be a vanagon owner you must have the "glass is half full," or
> more appropriately "the glass still has a drop left in it-maybe"
> mentality.
>
> I fool myself into genuinely believing that my vanagon runs good and is
> reliable, yet if I objectively evaluate it, the vehicle requires constant
> tinkering and breaks down every other month (although most often the
> incident is very minor). Owner's of any other vehicle would not stand for
> such performance.
>
> Just this last weekend I missed out on a three-Westy camping trip that
> had
> been planned for several months because my Westy took a $#!@. This
> morning,
> I found myself looking at it with a slight smile daydreaming of
> whether the
> next getaway in it would be to the mountains or to the coast!!!!! Call me
> stupid, or better yet call me a Vanagon owner.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "TJ Hannink" <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 7:40 PM
> Subject: Something only a Vanagon owner could come up with
>
>
>> I was checking out some Vanagons on eb*Y and came across something that
>> only a Vanagon owner could come up with: "This is a Wolfsburg edition,
>> comes with AC-works but does not blow cold."
>>
>> I know with most other types of vehicle, if the A/C isn't blowing cold,
>> most people would say that it's not working. The reason for A/C is to
>> cool
>> off the vehicles interior, isn't it? Would anyone say that the heater
>> works, but it does not blow hot?
>>
>> Sorry, been a long hard week.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> TJ Hannink
>> Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
>> 1981 Bluebird Wanderlodge, FC-33
>> Winter Park, Florida
>> http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FC_wanderlodge
>> FAVOR website: http://home.earthlink.net/~clubvanagon
>> __________________________________________________
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>
>
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