terminology question

[AnotherChachi]

so what do you call it when you fix a problem and immediately another pops up. My new 83.5 Westie does this all the time. I just spent 2 weeks tinkering and waiting for parts, dealing with sticky valves, frozen lifters, destroyed valve adjusters to get a decent compression test. Finally got it squared away and got 140 - 160 on all 4. I tidied up and went for a ride. Within 2 miles the front right brake caliper seized. This kinda thing happens all the time with this vehicle!

I think the old girl is testing me, like "am i still charming ?" Will I keep throwing money and time at this little camper? So I suggest "Charm Check" as a term for this "a solution deserves a new problem" behavior.

See my other post today for my "CC du jour".

SMILING and big thanks to all for all the help.
_________________
1987 Westfalia
2002 Moto Guzzi
1981 XS650 tracker
1948 Singer Roadster
1948 Whizzer

[Dogpilot]

We have two terms for your problem:
Phud's law of Universial Perversion, it makes Murphy look like an optimist.

Or

Working on aircraft
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[devesvws]

hitler's revenge

[bucko]

I call it another day of wrenching.

At least it's still running!
_________________
Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[tencentlife]

Appreciation Compound Syndrome.

Your calipers need "exercising". Take off both front wheels and lever the pistons back into the calipers, as if you were replacing pads. Pump up the brakes with the pedal and do it again.

[AnotherChachi]

good ones!

It's the FIXING that causes problems. Well I ain't fixing anything more then. I'm gonna start exercising things from now on. And I'm gonna start with my calipers in the morning. Thanks Tencent
_________________
1987 Westfalia
2002 Moto Guzzi
1981 XS650 tracker
1948 Singer Roadster
1948 Whizzer

[camo westy]

Another thoght;
Way back in the late 70's, I supported my family operating an imported car service garage... working on cars noone else in the area would support, Saabs, BMWs, Mecedes, British stuff, etc.

I came up with the concept that some cars just would develope a bad attitude, call it possesed, or a Troll (Saab's not so fuunny marketing slogan"Made in Trollhaten by Trolls")
Basicly some cars are just BAD, or become just BAD.

exorcise the Van, Pour some libation on it, call it names, threaten to scrap it... Sorrry, but some when machinery developes a soul of some sort, good or bad this is needed, some cars want to help and be helped, some dont. Whipp thst van into shape.

I had a Saab 99 EMS, the most possesed car I ever encountered, it had excellent compression, better than spec... but ran like sh-t. turned out the lower rings were all broken(?) , fixed that, then the valve guides started failing, replaced 3 times... ie. 3 sets of guides, new valves, all the trick fixes... Every time my wife would drive it, the car quit, I would go to retrieve the car, and it was fine???? I could go on and on. I finally decided to sell the car, new owner had no problems, NONE, car was fine... I should have charged Book Price!!!

I have also had cars the opposite, that want to fix themselves, VW's seem to mostly be in that group. Current Westy wants to be a 'good dog', a few pats ie.- oil change, fire it up) and the old girl responds with a hearty 'Lets go camping". No Saab BS.

FYIW, Japanese cars seem to be soulless. neither good nor bad. (IMHO)

[Raggamuffin]

I agree with Camo...

Best way to fix all of the little problems is to sell it. Months later you'll bump into the new owner while driving around town and they'll tell you how wonderful and trouble-free it's been.

[AnotherChachi]

hey Camo,
I had a haunted 99 ems too......you didn't buy yours from a guy in Maine did you? Silver with burgundy interior, excellent condition, gear shifter locked up on the new owner in less than an hour! I am incredibly tenacious and I think this bus will soon realize that it has to face a few more years of labor.

Cheers
_________________
1987 Westfalia
2002 Moto Guzzi
1981 XS650 tracker
1948 Singer Roadster
1948 Whizzer

[klucz]

VW's are the strangest thing. My 84 Westy takes care of me, basically. I'm just along for the ride. I have no idea how I made it this far. My 90 GLI is bent (the body) and just about everything on it needs to be replaced or adjusted, but its so much fun to drive, its like trying to keep a straight face when you're mad at your dog.

When I was a kid my dad had a fleet of catering trucks, late 70's-mid 80's Chevy 1/2 and 3/4 pickups with the big silver box on the back, as well as numerous other pickups and Suburbans. They're still among my favorites. Needless to say, they were always breaking. My dad's strategy was to take a nap, and usually they eventually started. I was actually thrilled because half of the time he would be yelling to me from under the hood while I got to turn the ignition and thump the gas pedal. I also had a system--while he would be playing the organ pedals and cranking the engine, I would yell things to encourage the truck to start, and had a tapping system on the dash or fender to rythmically help the engine fire. The funny thing was that the old man never asked me to stop with the tapping or yelling. It was like, "what the hell, maybe it works!"

[mr_vanagon]

[tencentlife]

Good catch. I had meant to just leave them in, but just in case....