| Author |
Message |
?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
|
 Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:41 am Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
 |
|
Don't operate the van prior to reading, understanding, and heeding the owner's manual. Really.
Maybe not the biggest, but a very, very common operational mistake due to the placement of the driver's seat over the front wheel:
Don't turn too soon... the rear corner will hit/scrape. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5076
Location: denver
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:48 am Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
When making turns near obstacles, don't forget that the front wheels are UNDER you, not IN FRONT of you.
EDIT: Waldo beat me to it!
| ?Waldo? wrote: |
Don't turn too soon... the rear corner will hit/scrape. |
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10369
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Some new owners (especially new camper owners) want to live the dream while not paying to get stuff fixed. To those folks:
- don't use under rated passenger tires
- don't use cheap oil; if engine leaks oil too fast, fix it, use good oil
- don't think: "it will fix it self". Deal with it.
- don't operate wipers with snow load on them
- don't assume; inspect what you can. If need be, get it/part inspected (confirmed) by a pro
- don't neglect the rear brakes because they "only do 30% of the braking".
- don't take it to "We Lube Fast" type places; take time to see if oil drain plug, drain threads in engine, are ok
- don't drain transaxle oil until fill plug is confirmed removable
As others say, the list is endless but those things are mostly Vanagon specific.
Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
charleslabri
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2019
Posts: 615
Location: Nashville/Yosemite
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Don’t “upgrade the inadequate brakes’”, but fix the stock brakes with good parts
Flush your brake fluid every 2 years, every year in mountains
_________________
.ssS! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bobbyblack
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4348
Location: United States, Iowa
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:11 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Don't forget this (sorry if its been discussed already)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=692179
Fuse your EFI in the Black Box..
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3795
Location: VA/TN
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
| andy52 wrote: |
| Yellow Rabbit wrote: |
| Never make a spreadsheet of costs and total it. |
fully agree |
can confirm. did this the first year and it was a waste of time. The westy gets what the westy wants
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3576
Location: Chicago
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
| djkeev wrote: |
| Abscate wrote: |
The gas station stirred up tank story is now a myth in North America.
Underground tank regulations stopped water infusion and a fuel filter handles the rest
Rest of world varies of course.I’ve strained gas through cheesecloth in some obscure parts of the world |
First hand experience says otherwise, sorry.
It may indeed be a "rule" but like many things in life, practical application falls short.
Dave
I've gotten water recently.
Dave |
DITTO on junk making it into the vehicle gas tank, you would NOT BELIEVE the things I've seen floating around in gas tanks that were pumped in from local stations. I think the filters don't always make it into some stations equipment if they cost money and the State Inspectors are too spread out to inspect the stations like they did years ago. It's the only way I could explain the size and diameter of what junk we find in tanks sometimes.
You'd think the pump nozzle alone would get clogged just trying to pass the stuff down into a vehicle..... 
Also, a few years back, BP and Costco around here got into a battle of words/money etc on who was responsible for cleaning the storage tanks that Costco was leasing from BP. I had a BP engineer personally warn me not to buy gas at the local Costco's until a certain build up was removed or at least lessened that was in the tanks, since it was bound to find its way into the pumps at all the Costcos that were pulling their gas from the leased Storage Tanks.
Weird but true Abscate... he described the build up as a corrosive along the lines of salt, but not salt,,, I still don't know exactly what the build up or chemical/impurity was, but there you have it. I would like to know more about it, but haven't seen the guy in a good few years.... 
Two big companies bickering about gas storage tank maint. and the associated costs..... 
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3576
Location: Chicago
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
| bobbyblack wrote: |
| big swifty wrote: |
| If your wife doesn't condone your obsession, don't tell her how much things for it cost. |
I beg to differ; if you presently are not married, don't marry a mate who can't understand that the Vanagon comes first.
If you are married, consider a trade in for one that does. |
BOOM...... 
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
a2wolfsburggli
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2018
Posts: 279
Location: WI
|
| Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Don't ask about oil brand or viscosity.
Don't ask what brand, style or size of tire you should run.
_________________
Current: '87 Westfalia | '16 Audi Q5 3.0T S-Line w/sport package.
Past: '09 CC 3.6L 4motion "R36 wannabe" | '02 Audi TT "ALMS Edition" | '84 Jetta GLI with Autotech Supercharger | '89 Helios Jetta GLI 16v's (x2) | '95.5 URS6 | and the list goes on.
Never underestimate the entertainment value of OCD overruling Common Sense |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
stuzbot
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2018
Posts: 377
Location: Pining for the Puddles of Yesterday
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 7:59 am Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Don't believe anything the previous owner told you about work that has supposedly been done on the van
[unless the previous owner admits to having employed a chimpanzee armed with a broken spanner]
_________________
*****************************
Click to view image
*****************************
1992 VW LT35 2,4D [SOLD]
1993 VW LT35 2,4D [SOLD]
1992 VW T3 1,6TD Syncro [SOLD]
***************************** |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Escorial Syncro
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2004
Posts: 437
Location: Manitou Springs, CO
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:39 am Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Don't (ever) try to compression-start a syncro in reverse. Might apply to 2wd vanagons as well, I just know I've seen syncro gear boxes with the side blown out from trying it.
_________________
Joel Lane
1985 Vanagon converted to syncro, ALH TDI, Reimo Primus top with Westy interior
2002 Toyota Tundra 4x4
1974 Honda CL360 Scrambler (for sale!)
Last edited by Escorial Syncro on Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3019
Location: MD
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:41 am Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Oof, thanks for the heads up.
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
big swifty
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2007
Posts: 246
Location: Formally in Republic of VT; now in Hollywood, FL
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
| bobbyblack wrote: |
| big swifty wrote: |
| If your wife doesn't condone your obsession, don't tell her how much things for it cost. |
I beg to differ; if you presently are not married, don't marry a mate who can't understand that the Vanagon comes first.
If you are married, consider a trade in for one that does. |
I'm lucky. She doesn't ask and I don't have to tell 
_________________
Evan
1987 Vanagon Syncro // Westfalia pop-top graft // Factory new ALH. 11mm IP. AFN 110 RC 2,3,4 // S7 turbo// Titan P502's
2013 Golf 4d TDI. No mods. Yet.
[1991 Jetta coupe TD. Giles Superpump. Custom tall 5 speed. SOLD |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Corwyn
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2009
Posts: 2237
Location: Olympia, Washington
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:09 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
DON'T buy a Vanagon (unless you root for the underdog, want a challenge and personal relationship with a needy vehicle that demands constant attention, lightens your wallet, challenges your patience and shares with you some amazing and rewarding experiences and relationship based on constant adventure, that you can't get with a SPRINTER)! 
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja
"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
82westyrabbit
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2015
Posts: 968
Location: Ma
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2020 5:58 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
I own a small airplane it makes the van look cheap. I don’t keep a spreadsheet on either. My wife pays the bills. She knows what they cost  Like my wife they must treated with love or they get vary expensive. I do all my own work on both vehicles. Otherwise I could not afford them. Sometimes I loan out the airplane. But I am the only one that drives van. John. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
fxr
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2321
Location: Bay area CA
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
MODERATOR EDIT: HOOK UP NEGATIVE TERMINAL LAST...... ALWAYS!
When disconnecting the battery, DO NOT disconnect the positive terminal FIRST!
Conversely, when reconnecting, DO connect the positive terminal LAST!
This could keep you out of ER...
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: What are the biggest DON'T DO THIS for a Vanagon? |
|
|
Do not assume your 30 yr. old Vanagon is safe just because you locked it.
Try a different key in the lock to see if it opens...it probably will.
The keylocks are worn out.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
