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Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:38 pm

I'm on the edge, looking at a near 20 year old car with high miles...

anyone want to talk me out of it...
or into it?

automatic transmission

**edit**

I promise I'll wave

Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:04 pm

wyomingriviera wrote: I'm on the edge, looking at a near 20 year old car with high miles...

anyone want to talk me out of it...
or into it?

automatic transmission

**edit**

I promise I'll wave

GO FOR IT!!

**edit**

I'll laugh

Just teasing, but seriously those auto's are junk.

**edit**

Amen

Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:55 am

from your name is the van a Riviera model? but it would have the Eurovan engine?

I have a Riviera former gas now TD Vanagon.

I don't know is there a big difference between a Vanagon and a Eurovan? engine wise I mean?

Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:25 am

It's a eurovan chassis with the rear facing seats, MV I think. It has the stock 5 cylinder. I'm gonna go for a spin later today. I hear the auto's really are junk, so I'll be paying close attention to that. Coolant color is another concern.

Anything else to be alert for?

Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:30 am

The I-5 engine is super tough but the auto tranny is weak. If you buy it, price it low enough to allow you to replace the tranny and still feel good.

The one piece cast exhaust manifolds sometimes develop a crack and they are not cheap. Take a look at that also. If it hasn't cracked by now you are probably okay.

Wed Sep 29, 2010 10:40 am

I'm pretty dense:

Where do I look for the manifold? Is it visible under the hood, or should I crawl underneath and look under the engine?

Wed Sep 29, 2010 7:30 pm

wyomingriviera wrote: I'm pretty dense:

Where do I look for the manifold? Is it visible under the hood, or should I crawl underneath and look under the engine?

It's on the back side of the head, so standing in front looking at the engine, it is on the far side of the head, away from you. Nearly impossible to see, from the top or the bottom, unless you get in there with a mirror. But, if it is cracked, you will hear it! No mistaking the sound of an exhaust leak right at the head. When you first start a cold engine, you can stick your hand back there and feel for exhaust pulses, but it gets hot pretty quickly.

RonC

EDIT -- I forgot to comment on the original poll. I would say go for it, if the price is right. Cheap is relative. Cheap to me is $400, what I paid for my latest (95) EV automatic. $1500 for a 94 auto, maybe five years ago. That is closer to the going price around here. Vans that old tend to be pretty beat, due to the salt around here. Autos are a known problem, but if it is high mileage, then it can last the life of the van now, if you keep looking after it. Some feel this is an infant mortality issue, either due to weak internals or poor maintenance. How much is "high mileage"? I have two T4 automatics (94, 95) two different auto types (old and new) and both are in the 250.000 km range, and both work fine. Well the transmission anyway, despite the reputation of the inline five and its durability, both suffered the same fate -- lost big end rod bearings.

I like the Eurovans, actually. I have four, and they do get some dissing on this forum, which tends to be T3-centric, but that's OK, I have four of those too.

Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:17 am

cool, good info. If cheap to you is $400, then no, it's not cheap, but it seems to be in good East coast shape.

What kind of service maintenance should I do to it?
I know when I first got my bay window, I adjusted the valves/points/timing, replaced spark plugs/cap/rotor, fuel lines, and checked the brake lines.

I'll for sure do spark plugs/cap/wires, oil change and filters, but what other basic maintenance should I budget for? Timing belt and wheel bearings? Is there a Ratwell site for Eurovans?

Thanks for the help; buying a used car really stresses me out! :shock:

Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:49 am

In my experience, by far the best site for Eurovans has been the ev_update yahoo group. VW vortex -- all vans & tranporters is good too, but not very active.

Wrong guy to ask about maintenance. I just drive them until something breaks, then I fix it, or park it while I think about fixing it. :oops:

RonC

Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:18 pm

I gave her a test drive today; she drove nice, good steering, like my bay, but also slow and noisy, like my bay. Does this seem about right?

Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:59 pm

we had a 93 standard, and it was pretty peppy. an not as noisy as our westy, all the doors and windows were tight.

Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:11 pm

wyomingriviera wrote: I gave her a test drive today; she drove nice, good steering, like my bay, but also slow and noisy, like my bay. Does this seem about right?

Hmmm...the slow and noisy like your bay part does not sound right. Should be night and day.

RonC

Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:25 pm

Maybe i'll walk, thanks. you guys are a great sounding board :)

Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:41 pm

If in doubt, DON't.

Sat Oct 02, 2010 7:32 pm

Well, I did it! For better or worse, I now own a '93 Westy. Not the cleanest, but in decent East Coast shape. Not as fast as a V8, but the I5 is ok. With some elbow grease, should be presentable, and the kids love it! :D
A couple minor issues; slider hard to unlatch, and cv or shock clunk. One major issue w/defroster heat (anybody know of a good related thread?) but 4 brand new studded Hakkapelitas'll come in handy

It was more than $400, but overall I feel I got a very fair deal; and even budgeted in a couple repairs. I just ordered up a Bentley, and have been trying to get used to the ev_update format. In the meantime, anyone know of a http://ratwell.com/ or http://www.planetklx.org/ type eurovan FAQ page?

Sun Oct 03, 2010 6:10 am

Well then congrats are in order! :wink:

Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:50 pm

after a good scrubbing:

Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:54 pm

You are FAST!!!