TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:23 am

Hey sorry for my absence, life kinda picked up super super fast and I’ve had no issues with the bus just a ton of fun. With AP’s and SAT’s I’ve been swamped. No issues with the bus and I took it today to school and people loved it. That being said, AP’s end in 2 weeks and my schedule will open up a ton especially with summer around the corner. I notice a smell not dissimilar from burnt rubber when I shift occasionally and I can’t tell if it’s the brakes or clutch. There’s a tiny bit of play in the transmission when trying to shift gears. The brakes 100% need to be gone through, the owner before me said that was the only thing they haven’t done and that I shouldn’t use the EBRAKE, thankfully have never had to and leaving it in first gear does the trick where I live. I’ve regularly drove it because letting it sit ik itsnt great but I’ve tried to limit my driving because Ik excessive driving isn’t great. I went to a bug show and a few cars and coffees to attempt to meet some locals with busses and get a mechanic who can show me the ropes on fixing up new drums because I’m a little nervous to do that comeplltey by myself with no one mechanically inclined. The air hoses have evening holding up great but damn she leaks oil like a mf and I really haven’t been able to pinpoint where, I can attach a photo later in case one of you may have an idea. I took her to my buddy’s dads shop who works on old land rovers and he said the fuel lines seemed solid. I plan to time and check valves this weekend as well ask stock up on oil because of the rate this thing leaks. I’ve been talking to Aidan and he’s hooked me up with a set of seats from a junkyard bus he can get to me for 400. I got historic plates on her so I can’t take her on the highway but I’m gonna trailer her up to OCNJ this summer with one of my buddies land rovers (the same one with the shop).

Just wanted to check in and say thank you all for eveyrhing and to where u got me. Along with saying thanks noe I want to say thank you in advance because I’m when she starts giving me problems I’m gonna need the help.

Ps I got an internship and my friends dad’s shop to maybe help me become a tad more mechanically inclined.

Thu Apr 25, 2024 10:33 am

Excellent news! 8)

Don't put the brakes off long, it doesn't matter how good it goes, if it doesn't stop it ain't worth shit.

Thu Apr 25, 2024 7:06 pm

For your safety and everyone else's safety driving near you, get those brakes done ASAP. Especially if you notice they are not performing well, that means very little life left in them.

Good report that you have been getting to drive it around a bit. Enjoy and be safe!

Fri Apr 26, 2024 11:02 am

Do the drums one at a time so you have a reference point to see how parts go back together. Don't even have to take a bunch of pictures that way. First step to finding the oil leak would be to scrub all the oil/grime of the bottom of the engine so you can potentially see where it's coming from. Glad you're enjoying it!

Sat Apr 27, 2024 2:24 pm

I told you to do the brakes right away. Remember, cars today stop way better than that bus did brand new. I bet my 26' Class C RV stops better than my bus. I know for a fact my Alltrack does and my 2003 Eurovan did too. Even my 2021 Jeep does (trust me, Jeeps are not known for handling or performance on the road). Then with modern tires (which are pretty new) your bus will have ABS in the dry unless you work out your legs at the gym or do lots of hiking.

In a nutshell, look at everything else that is driving around you and it doesn't take a pro racecar driver to get any modern vehicle to a stop in a jiffy today.

Wed May 08, 2024 6:16 pm

Studying for aps rn and figured I’d take the bus to get food really quick, unfortunately the dreaded day has came. I turned the key and it started up really quick made a loud noise then died, was hoping the battery died mid start up but unfortunately that’s not the case the battery is fine, however when I turn the key it doesn’t even seem to roll over. Been really busy but I hope this is a simpler fix. Thank you all!

Wed May 08, 2024 6:46 pm

Laird.Ostien wrote: Studying for aps rn and figured I’d take the bus to get food really quick, unfortunately the dreaded day has came. I turned the key and it started up really quick made a loud noise then died, was hoping the battery died mid start up but unfortunately that’s not the case the battery is fine, however when I turn the key it doesn’t even seem to roll over. Been really busy but I hope this is a simpler fix. Thank you all!

Got to preoccupied trying to diagnose the bus, I can say without a doubt it is the battery, all the wires seem fine and it started up with no issues when I jumped it. If anyone has a specific battery or brand they swear by please refer me!

Wed May 08, 2024 6:50 pm

Laird.Ostien wrote: Laird.Ostien wrote: Studying for aps rn and figured I’d take the bus to get food really quick, unfortunately the dreaded day has came. I turned the key and it started up really quick made a loud noise then died, was hoping the battery died mid start up but unfortunately that’s not the case the battery is fine, however when I turn the key it doesn’t even seem to roll over. Been really busy but I hope this is a simpler fix. Thank you all!

Got to preoccupied trying to diagnose the bus, I can say without a doubt it is the battery, all the wires seem fine and it started up with no issues when I jumped it. If anyone has a specific battery or brand they swear by please refer me!

Looking through forums,

Is this solid https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-ch...960419_0_0

Didn’t know battery’s were so diverse lol.

Thu May 09, 2024 2:25 am

Laird.Ostien wrote: Looking through forums,

Is this solid https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-ch...960419_0_0

Didn’t know battery’s were so diverse lol.

Someone more knowledgeable than me will hopefully chime in with better info, but what I can say is that "group 42" is what I always hear when battery topics pop up, so probably yes in that regard. CCA is basically how strong the battery can start the engine (it's biggest draw/load) when cold and I seem to recall our vw's only need about 300 so 500 would have you covered.

Thu May 09, 2024 5:18 am

Believe it or not Walmart batteries are pretty good. I’ve read several technical reviews indicating they rate very well and they are less expensive than most.
The marine starting battery in my restored Century Resorter is 12 yrs old and shows no sign of dying. As summer is approaching will replace it because of age only. I do use a tender & charge it 2-3 time during winter storage.

Thu May 09, 2024 11:39 am

There are only a handful of battery makers. Labels are an indication of warranty and where to take it when it dies.

Group 42, or 42-1 or something, it's not actually that important. What matters is that you install it securely and clean the wiring terminals.

Disconnect the negative/ground first and install the negative/ground last.

Of course, a jump start will tell you if the battery is truly bad. If it doesn't jump, you have other issues.

Robbie

Thu May 09, 2024 4:20 pm

Hey, I got the new battery in and she started up perfectly took her for a cruise and left her in my driveway, now when I try and pull her into my garage the key wouldn’t turn, thenrealized there some sort of lock system when the wheels turned, I turned the wheel back and now the same issue, I’m gonna try and re connect to battery cables in case they were lose but I’m thinking maybe ignition now?

Sun May 12, 2024 1:27 pm

Laird.Ostien wrote: Hey, I got the new battery in and she started up perfectly took her for a cruise and left her in my driveway, now when I try and pull her into my garage the key wouldn’t turn, thenrealized there some sort of lock system when the wheels turned, I turned the wheel back and now the same issue, I’m gonna try and re connect to battery cables in case they were lose but I’m thinking maybe ignition now? Steering Locks and interlocks age with wear. Sometimes a spray of a liquid grease that sets up as a tacky grease will free things up. Others would say a shot of graphite is the thing to use.

I have a dedicated lock spray from Wurth Products, but a close version would be Super Lube, which is usually available at hardware stores and Amazon.Also, don’t jam your steering wheel one way or the other after sitting off your Bus. You’ll lock up the steering lock every time if you yank a bit on the wheel.
Link to Super Lube below

https://a.co/d/7ABToi2

Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:37 am

its been a bit since ive been active here, all things have been going great and all my troubleshooting has been pretty quickly done through youtube videos or threads already posted on here. The one thing thats funny that i cant figure out is my blinkers will go from not working to working if i go over a decent bump and then back to working almost randomly.

anyway hope all is well with everyone who helped me. Ill upload some pics soon!

Tue Aug 20, 2024 5:29 pm

What year bus is this again?
Check your owners manual or Bentley wire diagram. What blinkers are you referring to? Clean all the connections then check then replace fuses associated with “Blinkers” then check.

Wed Aug 21, 2024 4:20 pm

I see the zip tie trick in your future. Battery disconnected, also a good time to heat-shrink the terminals on the hazard switch.

Robbie

Wed Aug 21, 2024 4:44 pm

A 69 could have a 9 terminal relay system too, lots of possible causes there, loose/dirty mounting bolt or dangly wires are the first ones I think of.

Sun Oct 20, 2024 12:30 pm

When I start my bus, it starts for a few seconds then dies, the engine sounds like it’s being flooded even when I don’t give it gas. It starts roaring, my first thought goes to the carb. Any ideas on what it might be before I start digging around?

Sun Oct 20, 2024 1:00 pm

could be a problem with your float or a vacuum leak.roaring I assume you mean revving at a high rpm.

Sun Oct 20, 2024 1:20 pm

Did that come on all of a sudden?, or gradually over days/weeks/months?