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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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Heee, dude I know you well enough to know exactly what you're doing!!! I got your SAAB right here, pal! _________________ 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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Waldi Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 1752 Location: Germany
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 6:29 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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I have bought a van in Italy (Alps) which has gone down the hill into a river velly due to self loosening hand break.
This self loosening hand break is a comon failrure.
Happened to my van too when it rolled down 5m into my trailer at home.
Never leave the van parked on a hill without 1st or R gear inside.
Make sure your hand break mechanism (spring) is in good shape. |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 10:02 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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That is very good advice. Gravity is powerful worldwide... _________________ 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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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50261
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 10:13 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
That is very good advice. Gravity is powerful worldwide... |
Gravity deniers of the world unite now before its too late!!!! |
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9521 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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Waldi wrote: |
This self loosening hand break is a comon failrure.
......
Make sure your hand break mechanism (spring) is in good shape. |
I’ve never heard of this problem. Even with no spring you would have to first pull the handle a little to unload the pawl or it won’t release.
There is only one spring in the handle. If you feel spring tension on the release button the spring is good. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 6316 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 12:43 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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Sodo wrote: |
Waldi wrote: |
This self loosening hand break is a comon failrure.
......
Make sure your hand break mechanism (spring) is in good shape. |
I’ve never heard of this problem. Even with no spring you would have to first pull the handle a little to unload the pawl or it won’t release.
There is only one spring in the handle. If you feel spring tension on the release button the spring is good. |
I've had it happen to me twice: parking brake pulled, and you hear a big "TONG" and it all comes loose. I never found out why, like a tooth came out or something. I inspected everything, it's like it never happened, and it never did it again. Looks like a snapped cable type of situation.
The first time at the top of my 16% driveway in France to go open the gate, good thing it happened right away, I was still in the van. Big scary drop from the hill side on the right side, wall on the left side, barely wide enough for the van to fit... I learnt that day how to steer well backing up real fast while just looking in the outside mirrors. Couldn't stop the van, it happend so fast and got too much motion :the bottom of the driveway was a big gravel yard. Scary as hell. I remember having shoved gravel in the tail pipe from the speed. Uffff!
Second time ,same, steep driveway in Hawai'i, but I had a gear engaged this time (hé-hé) and it rolled slowly so I was able to go back in, I still had one leg inside...
Damn e-brakes! _________________ Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget |
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jackbombay Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007 Posts: 2723 Location: Eastern Idaho
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 7:29 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
Certain SAAB models put their emergency/parking brakes on the front wheels, which makes a lot of sense if you're trying to stop the car as quickly as possible in a true emergency. |
Our 1991 subaru loyale had the hand brake on the front wheels, but I much prefer it on the rear wheels to get the car to "rotate" when desired _________________
Gas struts to pop your top easily!
Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies
Samba ad here.
DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs) |
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9521 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 9:17 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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ALIKA T3 wrote: |
Sodo wrote: |
Waldi wrote: |
This self loosening hand break is a comon failrure.
......
Make sure your hand break mechanism (spring) is in good shape. |
I’ve never heard of this problem. Even with no spring you would have to first pull the handle a little to unload the pawl or it won’t release.
There is only one spring in the handle. If you feel spring tension on the release button the spring is good. |
I've had it happen to me twice: parking brake pulled, and you hear a big "TONG" and it all comes loose. I never found out why, like a tooth came out or something. I inspected everything, it's like it never happened, and it never did it again. Looks like a snapped cable.... |
OK not a spring problem but a failure of the ratchet pawl. I have experienced this too but the car didn’t roll away; perhaps my foot was still near the footbrake? I can happen after a few minutes delay, another reason use a 2nd (or 3rd) means to be certain it cannot roll.
Probably the ratchet pawls did not engage properly - then the pawl is “thrown out” with such force it doesn’t stop at the adjacent tooth but skips over the next few teeth.
Or perhaps something else wrong, such as an iPhone cable tangled in the mechanism. And you assumed cable damage was from the cat chewing on the cable.
Actually this is a good argument for having good brake function at the wheel. My brake is so weak that every time, I must pull it as HARD as possible. Which is perhaps more risk to the problem described above. However, since I cannot rely on the brake holding (for past 8 years) I ALWAYS put it in granny or reverse and steer the front wheels to the most favorable angle. People in Kansas or Florida (or Holland) probably don’t develop such habits.
If driving in Austria.....such habits could be beneficial. maybe the Syncro driver was from Holland, and first time driving in the mountains? I wonder if e-brake function is “tested” in Austria. Can you drive a car that has a brake (that clicks nicely, even “3” clicks ) but doesn’t actually hold the car from rolling? In WA state (USA) there are no vehicle inspections, you can change anything. Also I have never heard of a handbrake test, and we have many cities with parking on steep hills. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:27 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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Yeah, a well maintained handbrake is a must - particularly if you are offroading. Many stucks occur while heading uphill and I cringe when people set the parking brake, leave the engine running in N and hop out to take a look at what's got them stuck.
We used to use the rule the driver stays in the driver's seat under this circumstance. Parking brake on, vehicle in gear or Park. If its a broken part, be alert this may affect secondary effectiveness. Such as an axle, or CV joint which means having the vehicle in gear it can still roll.
If the driver's getting out because its a mechanical failure and nobody's going anywhere for a while, roll rocks behind the wheels, firewood, strap to a tree or another vehicle. Being on a steep hill with a need for the vehicle to hold itself stationary is a time to over do the safety thinking. _________________ 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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fxr Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014 Posts: 2301 Location: Bay area CA
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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Sodo wrote: |
If driving in Austria.....such habits could be beneficial. maybe the Syncro driver was from Holland, and first time driving in the mountains? I wonder if e-brake function is “tested” in Austria. Can you drive a car that has a brake (that clicks nicely, even “3” clicks ) but doesn’t actually hold the car from rolling? In WA state (USA) there are no vehicle inspections, you can change anything. Also I have never heard of a handbrake test, and we have many cities with parking on steep hills. |
In the EU, the hand-brake is tested every year on a rolling road at the annual road-worthiness test, along with a myriad of other things that those in the US often don't consider in the lifetime of a vehicle.
These road-worthiness tests (e.g. called the MOT in the UK) can be a RRPITA sometimes. Just a faded or cracked red or amber cover over a tail light or blinker can mean a failure. _________________ Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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I wish they got that serious here actually. The number of cars on bald tires with 3 working brakes and frayed wiper blades is appalling. Somehow the driver manages to buy a subwoofer, a pack of $8 cigarettes and the brightest damn set of dimestore LEDs which are always pointed up in my eyes. Damn kids! (Imagine an old guy shaking his fist out the window)... _________________ 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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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 9:50 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
I wish they got that serious here actually. The number of cars on bald tires with 3 working brakes and frayed wiper blades is appalling. Somehow the driver manages to buy a subwoofer, a pack of $8 cigarettes and the brightest damn set of dimestore LEDs which are always pointed up in my eyes. Damn kids! (Imagine an old guy shaking his fist out the window)... |
I see that you're ready to join the old farts. Repeat after me: "Get offa my lawn!" _________________ '84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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Waldi Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 1752 Location: Germany
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:38 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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fxr wrote: |
Sodo wrote: |
If driving in Austria.....such habits could be beneficial. maybe the Syncro driver was from Holland, and first time driving in the mountains? I wonder if e-brake function is “tested” in Austria. Can you drive a car that has a brake (that clicks nicely, even “3” clicks ) but doesn’t actually hold the car from rolling? In WA state (USA) there are no vehicle inspections, you can change anything. Also I have never heard of a handbrake test, and we have many cities with parking on steep hills. |
In the EU, the hand-brake is tested every year on a rolling road at the annual road-worthiness test, along with a myriad of other things that those in the US often don't consider in the lifetime of a vehicle.
These road-worthiness tests (e.g. called the MOT in the UK) can be a RRPITA sometimes. Just a faded or cracked red or amber cover over a tail light or blinker can mean a failure. |
Yes they test the "hand break" every 2 years, but they do only test the funktion of the rear breaks and not the funktion of the mechanism.
They just pull it and look if the break works. They dont engage it.
Also the problem is, this failure comes unexpected. Means the mechanism is working always, but on time not. BUUUUUM |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6379 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:48 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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IdahoDoug wrote: |
My question is why didn't he just drive it down? |
Because that thread would have been boring. _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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Waldi Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 1752 Location: Germany
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:52 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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E1 wrote: |
IdahoDoug wrote: |
My question is why didn't he just drive it down? |
Because that thread would have been boring. |
Same boring as lifting it up by a helicopter instead driving it up |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6379 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:01 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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True!
Couple things:
-- pulling up e-brake and hearing clicking: Bad
-- pushing in button, pulling up brake until tight and then releasing button: Good
-- applying e-brake and then putting into gear to park: Bad
-- putting in gear and rolling weight onto transmission until stopped, then applying e-brake: Good _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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Waldi Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 1752 Location: Germany
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:07 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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Thats the pic of mine bought van after some stripping.
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22570 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:10 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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It looks like the transmission oil overheated, Waldi _________________ .ssS! |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 6316 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6379 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:26 am Post subject: Re: When you drive up a mountain and your van breaks down |
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^^^ This is what happens when telling one's van to get bent ^^^ _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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