Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:35:23 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: I'm a newbie
In-Reply-To: <CAGXJJtxQ1ZDoSRvSpQ9N==3pDe+FN5nfMZSfsD+EqVVcCSrgvQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hey that sounds great !
let's start the guy off on something like a clutch job and replace all
CV joints and boots !
Just joking.
Really though ..
if there is an Owner's Manual in the van and a service schedule ..start
there.
Like what fluids to change when, for example.
For sure get a Bently manual, new or used. That will be your bible..
and .it is not a 'how to' book really ..
it is written for techs that already know how to work on cars ..
and you gotta have one if you want to do anything on your van reallyanyway.
Or just start by checking all exterior running lights.
I find lots of those out on vans I work on ,quite typically.
The front turn signallenses ..
those can fill with water...it's very good to take those off ( two
screws ) ..take out the light socket..
make sure it's not all rusty, empty out any water in the lens housing
..dry that in the sun, etc.
personally I treat all electrical connections with either electrical
contact cleaner, dielectric grease, or WD-40.
buy a good can of high qualityspray lube..
and start lubing parts that move and pivot. Typically most vanagons
almost never get much of that at all..
and an 84 is 29years old after all. Say shift linkage ..l70 % of
vanagons with manual transmissions never get their shift linkage lubed ..
which leads to wearing of parts that never needs to happen really ...
( under neath the shift boot in front, under the floor there, in the
middle of the van underneath, and at the trans in back ,, those moving
and sliding points ) .
get a 17mm hex tool ....a short piece of a large 17mm allen wrench cut
off works great..
and check the trans oil. Make sure there's enough in there , look around
for leaks ..
check the magnetic drain plug for metalparticles..and even bearing balls
! ...I am finding many original Vanagon transaxles being noisy these
days, or needing rebuilding.
The trans is worth more than the whole van almost, if we are taking
older low end vanagons ...There areonly so many transalxes around ...if
the ring and pinion is shot ...even just roughness on the gears...it's
not even a core anymore.
You want to take good care of the trans. As I said..I am finding a lot
of bad or tired ones lately, and they can be expensive to rebuild.
If it moves ..it needs some sort of lubrication in my world.
have fun !
scott
www.turbovans.com
On 3/24/2013 12:16 PM, Steven Johnson wrote:
> Way to jump in with both eyes closed! May I suggest you go to the nearest
> liquor store
> and by a large quantity of one or two of your favorite beverages so that
> when you realize
> what you're in for you will be able to readily dull your senses from the
> impact.....
>
> Lot's of help on this list, Samba and the Bentley manual.
>
> Welcome!
>
> Steven
> 91 Westy
>
> On Sun, Mar 24, 2013 at 11:30 AM, Rocky Davis <rock1256@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I bought an 84 westy last year and I really don't know too much. Never
>> have had a VW before. Was wondering if there was someone close to me that
>> could look at my westy and maybe explain how to work some of the equipment
>> and maybe show some things I should work on. I'm in north Orange County
>> California. Thanks for all your post I have learned a little.
>> Rock
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
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