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piruvan Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2009 Posts: 147 Location: So. Cal
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject: Bought my first Vanagon |
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1989 GL Wolfsburg w/ 175K mi. Southern Cali van. Good shape for its age. Runs well. PO dumped over $4000 into mechanical last year alone (I bought for $4500) I have lots of questions. The bus has lots of little (maybe not little) issues. Too many to ask about all at once. But I'll list some of the big ones now.
-PO put Kumho 857 tires on it. Isn't that a trailer tire? Are they safe to drive with?
-PO put new rack and pinion on last year. Front tires are bald on inside, thick
tread on outside. Ball joints/bushings look good. steers straight, no noises. Just an alignment needed?
-that typical oil pressure light buzzer problem. Only after approx 30min driving in hot weather. Cool weather = no buzzer. Current oil filter is a Valuecraft (quickie lube brand?) and records show last oil weight 20W50.
..so I'll see if an oil change w/ correct VW approved filter will fix this before assuming other causes.
...and there's so much more little, picky stuff...too much for this first post.
I just want to make sure A: it's safe to put my wife and four year old son in.
B: I'm not going to drive 50mi and trash a motor that seems to run great.
...until I know, it sits parked in my driveway. I either just bought a money-pit or I'm in for some fun trips in the future.
...all advice greatly appreciated!
Last edited by piruvan on Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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izzydog Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005 Posts: 665
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats on the van! Now the fun begins!
---don't know about the Kumho tires but if they are as bald as you say, I would definitely be looking for some C rated tires. Lots of recommendations here on the Samba.
---an alignment and new tires are in order. I would consider moving up to 15" wheels if you don't have them already. More tire choices and also some nice alloy wheel choices in 15". It will also allow you to move up to a big brake kit down the road.
---change the oil and use a Mann filter. You can get them from VanCafe or BusDepot if you can't find one locally. DO NOT fill your oil up to the top mark on the dipstick. In between the two marks is good and will often eliminate the oil buzzer issue.
Did you do a compression check or leak down test on the van before you bought it? Does the PO repair history show if the heads were ever replaced or the water jacket seal issue ever dealt with? Those are a couple of biggies...
cheers,
Jeff |
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blakeck2 Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2009 Posts: 939 Location: Los Osos, CA
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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Ill be the first...
REPLACE YOUR FUEL LINES!!!
Welcome to the samba
Yes vanagons are a money pit but very worth it |
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Bercilak Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2009 Posts: 391
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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Piruvan,
Whereat in SoCal (I'm in south OC)?
Those tires are indeed "Trailer Only" though I don't know why that would be the case. The load rating looks OK, but I'm not clear on the sidewall rating. The original spec for the vanagon tire called for what is now a "C" rating on the sidewall. These are usually available in a light-truck tire.
You will get no end of discussion about whether your tires are "safe" or not ~ do a quick search and you'll see some serious battles.
My answer is that they do not meet the specs set out for your vehicle, and are therefore potentially suspect. They may not every cause a problem, but they're not correctly rated (probably). The user manual has the tire specs, and there should also be some information on the pillar of the driver's door. Check, and get appropriate tires.
Many people go with Hankook ~ I have a tire that is D-rated, but apparently no longer available, so I got a Hankook when I needed a spare. Some searching here will give you some other tire options.
There are a number of good VW shops around, if you want to go that route. I have an air-cooled so I order parts from Bus Depot (plan ahead) but you can probably get what you need from Van-Cafe just up the coast. They will likely include cookies with your order.
I suspect the oil filter is one part of the OP problem, but may not be the only one. I've read that you can use the NAPA top o' the line filter, or a Wix.
Replace filter and oil, then check. make sure connections are clean. If the problem continues, get an OP gauge you can use to check the OP at idle and under pressure. Real information instead of guess will get you down the road farther.
Oil is 20W50 for air-cooleds (my brand) but check for the water cooled specs. People here will know/advise. |
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82WestyMan Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2006 Posts: 1098 Location: Western OR
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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blakeck2 wrote: |
Ill be the first...
REPLACE YOUR FUEL LINES!!!
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damn, you beat me to it
(wonder if forum could get an automated script to run the first time it sees anything like "I just bought a Vanagon" to save us all from tripping all over each other saying... "REPLACE YOUR .... (well,you know)"?) _________________ "The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine |
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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But if that were the case I may never get the chance to say....you know what!
You only go through once...have fun spending the money!
Brian. |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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Oh s+++, not another victim. Does this one have any extra money???? Don't tell anybody,go buy some goood pills,3 cases of beer and sleep well tonight cause you 'NEVER gonna be the same"!! Yeah and by the way welcome to the looney club. |
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piruvan Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2009 Posts: 147 Location: So. Cal
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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You guys are scaring me with the Vanagon = $$$ and "you've crossed over the crazy threshold"
Now, re: fuel lines...PO happened to live in San Luis Obispo, CA -a short drive from Go Westy...which happened to do much of the recent repair work on this '89 (partly influenced my decision to buy it) This is from a repair invoice:
3/10/2008 168,785 (current is 175,375)
INSTALL FUEL TANK RE-SEAL KIT W/FILLER NECK (and among other tank releated parts, including a new fuel sender) TWO METERS OF GERMAN BRAIDED FUEL LINE.
...thanks PO!
...am I good with the fuel lines? |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, don't take us seriously here,it's all in fun for the nubies,and we have papers to prove we are sane(is that the correct word). U won't find more helpful or anyone that is as familiatr with these vans and the fixes,just ask and someone will have seen it. |
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msinabottle Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3492 Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:26 pm Post subject: Of course we're... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAhAH! |
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Quote: |
Hey, don't take us seriously here,it's all in fun for the nubies,and we have papers to prove we are sane |
Sane? Sane? OF COURSE WE'RE SANE! THE WORLD IS CRAZY AND ONLY WE ARE SANE!
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH!
Okay, let's get down to the brass tacks. Or the chassis grounds, burnish all those down to bare metal, clean all connections, and cover 'em with grease.
Yes, it's an old vehicle and you'll be fixing it more than the new ones. You'll also be having more fun. Face it--you sensed that we were on to something good in this Forum, and you wanted in.
You're in!
Learn to use the search, learn the ways to destroy your van and don't do those, and get ready for a very fun, if very slow ride
ON THE HIGHWAY TO HELL!
Hahahahahahahahah!
Best! _________________ 'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10379 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:57 am Post subject: |
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piruvan wrote: |
You guys are scaring me with the Vanagon = $$$ and "you've crossed over the crazy threshold"
Now, re: fuel lines...PO happened to live in San Luis Obispo, CA -a short drive from Go Westy...which happened to do much of the recent repair work on this '89 (partly influenced my decision to buy it) This is from a repair invoice:
3/10/2008 168,785 (current is 175,375)
INSTALL FUEL TANK RE-SEAL KIT W/FILLER NECK (and among other tank releated parts, including a new fuel sender) TWO METERS OF GERMAN BRAIDED FUEL LINE.
...thanks PO!
...am I good with the fuel lines? |
Hard to say absolutely for sure via the 'net, but seems to me that only the fuel tank lines were done. The real concern is fuel hose inside, and to/from, engine bay. (I assume GW replaced shorter hose from tank to pump) The good news is that GW took care of a job none of us ever looks forward to. Gas tank resealing.
Nothing to be scared of here. In spite of msinabottle's big red letters
This list has been super helpful for me and many others.
The Vanagon = $$$ part? In terms of getting it "up to snuff" and keeping it maintained, really depends on how much work you can do yourself and how well it was maintained by PO. And, what work was actually performed by PO. i.e. did he do any custom wiring? (likely not as it's not a Westy right?) All good intentions if he did, but sometimes one can create more work that way. If all the work was done by GW or other Vanagon knowledgable mechanic, then that's a big help. $$$ can also mean upgrades. Tire/wheels being one obvious one.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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newt909 Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2009 Posts: 39 Location: MA
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:07 am Post subject: |
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check the little stubs of FI hose that connect directly to the injectors. I have a engine that was said to of come directly from gowesty and while the majority of hose was fresh (not original) and rather good, the little stubs only need a strong wiggle to rupture. You could even hear them crackle with the initial wiggle. _________________ '91 GL |
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blakeck2 Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2009 Posts: 939 Location: Los Osos, CA
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:42 am Post subject: |
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Most of the $$$ that will go into your vanagon is from stuff you want to buy for it not have to |
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