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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:03 pm Post subject: I just Bought a Vanagon - critical Checks & Repairs |
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(no I didn't but this thread is a follow up with one of your hard-workin' mods about what to do right away on a newly acquired Vanagon - that means before adding the zircon-encrusted tweezers to your new bumper...)
I. First -- Safety Items -- do Items to prevent the van from Killing you
a. Change all the rubber fuel hoses, using ethanol rated hose that is the correct pressure rating for your EFI system; use the correct clamps (NOT garden hose clamps that will eat into the rubber hose); consider replacing the FPR also and the plenum chambers where the injectors sit (aka, fuel rails - see this thread for what to use: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613207)
** Ben's Place has this process with detailed pics: http://www.benplace.com/fuel_line.htm
- BTW, this is a good time to replace the injectors or get them cleaned
b. Change all the rubber brake hoses, replacing them with new rubber ones; also replace the brake fluid with new, Quality brake fluid (look for a high wet boiling point)
c. Inspect the tires for cuts, rips, or places where the rubber is bulging out - but FIRST check the date Codes and Load Ratings
II. Second - make sure the Vanagon will not strand you in the back-country (which might also kill you, or at least harsh your mellow)
a. take apart each engine ground; inspect it and clean it back to bare metal - there is a thread somewhere with pics of each one for the 2.1L motors
b. install a relay for the starter - VWbusguy makes a nice kit
c. buy a replacement ignition switch and carry with you, or repl. now
d. read thru this for some other issues: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=625774&start=40
III. Third - Get the vehicle onto its Long-Term Maintenance Schedule
a. get the list of these service items form the GoWesty web site - I entered this as an Excel spreadsheet for my model Van
b. check the service history you got from the previous owner (PO) - I added mine into that Excel spreadsheet along with columns for the date done, the mileage it was done at, etc. - I use an auto-color function to light it up when a service interval is exceeded. People older than me have used looseleaf binders for this.
IV. Start a Savings Account for Major Repairs
V. After the Savings Account hits critical mass, THEN you can do all those fun extras
You will need to get a Bentley Service Manual to show you how to service the vehicle
** Do Not rely on a PPO done by a shop - get familiar with your vehicle
Last edited by Merian on Wed Apr 29, 2015 12:20 pm; edited 8 times in total |
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newfisher Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2012 Posts: 1764 Location: The wet spot--Oregon
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Where is the poll? Hehe |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15129 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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YES _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:13 am Post subject: |
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- who wants to post links to threads for how to do each item above? |
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Terry Kay Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003 Posts: 13331
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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It'll probably do both.
Not necessarily at the same time. _________________ T.K. |
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Abelabelabel Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2014 Posts: 336 Location: Santa Ana, CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: I just Bought a Vanagon - will it burn up or crash first |
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Quote: |
** Do Not rely on a PPO done by a shop - get familiar with your vehicle |
This. Learning with my temperamental Carat. The new car inspection had a list with almost no issues.
I've since had the shifter completely rebuilt, and have a growing list of "Concerns" that are keeping it from becoming a daily driver.
[/quote] _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL / Carat Interior / Auto - White "Daily"
1990 Vanagon Carat / manual / Cherry Red "Bella Rouge" |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32432 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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I've seen people, both locally and online, who get a Van and immediately focus on....
"I'm going to undercoat it!"
"I'm going to paint it!"
"New wheels! Look ..... these 14" things are ugly!"
"Tint the windows first thing"
"Rocky mountain Bumpers!"
"South African Grille and better LED lighting everywhere! "
And I think....... Umm....... No........ Calm down here folks........
Fuel lines ok?
Brakes Ok?
Coolant parts ready to burst?
Belts?
Plugs?
Wires?
Does it run ok or do you have aging Digifant issues?
But no....... Appearances are apparently everything!
Best looking POS in the valley right there!
Then they begin to really fix it and now it's "Oh My GOD!!!! Look at the prices on XYZ!! How dare they?!? This is just an old Volkswagen! I can't afford to keep this Van running!"
Thinks I....... Didn't you just drop two grand for wheels and tires??..........
Heavy Sigh...........
Dave _________________ Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16474 Location: Brookeville, MD
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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DJKeev,
That lopsided budgeting is an automotive pet peeve of mine. How many times have you been behind a formerly nice 10 year old Honda Civic that is lowered and sitting on $2k worth of rims and tires at a stoplight? Then as it pulls away around the corner it emits a puff of smoke, and the CV joints clatter ominously, and you hear a belt squeal when they shift. I suppose when I was a kid I was also into my car's appearance, but in those days your options for improving things were smaller dime store things, or body work.
But the epidemic of kids driving what we used to call "glossy dogs" is crazy these days. Who's teaching them their automotive strategy in life? Oh yeah - Hollywood! Nevermind - case closed. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Gunldesnapper Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2013 Posts: 147 Location: Murika
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 5:57 am Post subject: |
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My vote is for C. Mysterious idle issue before it breaks down. _________________ 1990 Vanagon Carat "Pig"
USN RET |
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Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:45 am Post subject: |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
DJKeev,
That lopsided budgeting is an automotive pet peeve of mine. How many times have you been behind a formerly nice 10 year old Honda Civic that is lowered and sitting on $2k worth of rims and tires at a stoplight? Then as it pulls away around the corner it emits a puff of smoke, and the CV joints clatter ominously, and you hear a belt squeal when they shift. I suppose when I was a kid I was also into my car's appearance, but in those days your options for improving things were smaller dime store things, or body work.
But the epidemic of kids driving what we used to call "glossy dogs" is crazy these days. Who's teaching them their automotive strategy in life? Oh yeah - Hollywood! Nevermind - case closed. |
I see many 25+ year old Hondas on the road. Some of them look like they are driving on the original tires! _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy
Last edited by Gauche1968 on Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:46 am Post subject: |
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djkeev wrote: |
I've seen people, both locally and online, who get a Van and immediately focus on....
"I'm going to undercoat it!"
"I'm going to paint it!"
"New wheels! Look ..... these 14" things are ugly!"
"Tint the windows first thing"
"Rocky mountain Bumpers!"
"South African Grille and better LED lighting everywhere! "
And I think....... Umm....... No........ Calm down here folks........
Fuel lines ok?
Brakes Ok?
Coolant parts ready to burst?
Belts?
Plugs?
Wires?
Does it run ok or do you have aging Digifant issues?
But no....... Appearances are apparently everything!
Best looking POS in the valley right there!
Then they begin to really fix it and now it's "Oh My GOD!!!! Look at the prices on XYZ!! How dare they?!? This is just an old Volkswagen! I can't afford to keep this Van running!"
Thinks I....... Didn't you just drop two grand for wheels and tires??..........
Heavy Sigh...........
Dave |
HEY, I thought bigger wheels was a safety and stability issue or something? _________________ 1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50257
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:41 am Post subject: |
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djkeev wrote: |
And I think....... Umm....... No........ Calm down here folks........
Fuel lines ok?
Brakes Ok?
Coolant parts ready to burst?
Belts?
Plugs?
Wires?
Does it run ok or do you have aging Digifant issues?
But no....... Appearances are apparently everything!
Best looking POS in the valley right there!
Then they begin to really fix it and now it's "Oh My GOD!!!! Look at the prices on XYZ!! How dare they?!? This is just an old Volkswagen! I can't afford to keep this Van running!"
Thinks I....... Didn't you just drop two grand for wheels and tires??..........
Heavy Sigh...........
Dave |
Are you implying that these things might be machines with mechanical parts inside and OIL & GREASE, don't make me think of those horrid things. I though cars were like pieces of jewelry, there for looks with the every present hope they will attract the opposite sex. |
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61Scout Samba Member
Joined: November 06, 2011 Posts: 1297 Location: Shoreline/Yakima WA
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:44 am Post subject: |
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I'm honestly not sure what the purpose of this thread is... but in regards to the Honda crowd, there are some super nice Hondas rolling around. Sure sure, there are plenty of examples of crappy work, but that fact is also true in the Vanagon world. These folks who do crappy modifications and patch "repairs" though, are really tourists... they'll be involved in the hobby until their lack of skill or their lack of wallet gets the best of them. In any case, check out a Honda show sometime. The group is maturing/aging, and as a consequence they now have more money and greater skills to apply to their projects.
-Kevin _________________ 1986 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg, RJE 2.3
1985 Tin Top, Subie 2.2 + 5MT
Floppy Mirrors no more: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=653018&highlight=
Remove the front spindle nut with ease: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=679567&highlight=
Remove the rear wheel bearing housing without messing with the big 46mm nut: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=679507&highlight=
-Nec Spe, Nec Metu |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32432 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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yes, that is the purpose of this thread - and to serve as an overall list of critical things to do first for the buyers own safety
Links to other threads could be added here to give details on how to do each procedure and we then would not have thousands of "change your fuel lines" posts
if it were not clogged up too much with off-topic posts, djkeev could make it a sticky and it could then be sent automatically to new people when they register (they already get a registration Email) |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32432 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Bassyaks Samba Member
Joined: October 06, 2010 Posts: 1135 Location: S.E. Connetitcut
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Start this first IV. Start a Savings Account for Major Repairs |
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thummmper Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2009 Posts: 2015 Location: Meadow Valley, California Republic
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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without reading it all I have a painful experience to avoid that is as important as the fuel line equation-...which id the red/white wire to the switch on the power steering pump, right side engine-- a 2000.00 dollar solution that isn't necessary is a simple ninline fuse on this wire-- people install a belt that is too short and the pump migrates into the intake manifold causing a dead short and melts the engine harness together. she may still run, but terribly. 5 months and 2k and I found it still needed bundling correctly so that it all fit in the black box again.... as bad or worse than the engine fire-- |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7402 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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thummmper wrote: |
- people install a belt that is too short |
So do we advise noobs to install the correct belt or add a fail-safe for when the incorrect belt is installed? Fail-safes make sense at times but correct maintenance is favored over endless second guessing (which seems to be the point of this thread). _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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