If your engine is indeed "ready to go" then DO NOT drive it until it dies.
You run the risk of punching a rod through the side of the case and
rendering it unrebuildable.  (Translation:  more $$$ for core charge)  BTDT,
by the way...

Here's hoping that it is something benign!

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alli Dahlin" <treetop_84@hotmail.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2000 10:14 PM
Subject: Good trip, but BAD news follows

> Hi all,
>
> Took the van out to Colorado for a week long trip and it did very well.
The
> only problem we had was having to buy new tires in Denver after one tire
had
> a bad leak, one tire had a nail sticking out of it, and the other two were
> really worn.  Ended up getting the Michelin's, and the van handles so much
> better now.  No more almost getting blown off the road by light wind!
>
> One question I have is about the temp gauge.  On the way to Colorado in
very
> hot weather, the temp gauge stayed pretty steady at the half way mark.
> Coming back to Minneapolis was a different story.  The needle would be at
> half, but then would climb to just shy of 3/4.  It would stay there for a
> bit, and then go back to 1/2.  It did this continually the whole drive
back,
> and in cooler weather.  Is this OK, or does there seem to be a problem?
My
> VW mechanic said this was OK, but I seem to trust the knowledge of the
list
> over anyone.
>
> Also, at what point should the radiator fan kick in?  Should it always
come
> on after driving for a while, or not?  Mine only came on a few times the
> whole trip.  I just got a new radiator a few weeks ago too.
>
> Now for the BAD news.  While driving, there was this knocking sound.  When
I
> was driving it sounded like it was coming from the passenger seat area,
and
> when my friend was driving, it sounded like it was near the drivers seat
> (she thought the opposite).  It definetly sounded like it was coming from
> this area though.  This only occured after driving for a while and was an
> off and on occurance.
>
> Took the van in for an oil change when we got home and had the noise
checked
> out.  Mechanic said the front end checked out OK, but it sounded like a
> rotational engine noise, possibly the cam gear.  This is not good.
> He told me to get a second opinion, which I am trying to do tomorrow.  If
> this is the problem and I need a new engine, is it bad to drive the van
> until it dies?  Would there be any other damage I would do to it?  How do
I
> know when the engine is about to give out?  Will the noise get worse, or
> will it just happen?
>
> I just bought this thing 3 months ago, have put $3000 in to it, and have
> gotten two trips out of it.  I'd like to get maybe a few with-in-towing-
> distance trips out of it, before it has to go into storage and probably
sit
> there for a few years before I can afford a new engine.
>
> That is my saga.  Any help is appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Alli
> '84 Westy "Treetop"
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
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