This is from a person on the rec.watercooled.vw list who's having
problems with her vanagon. I responded and told her what I thought the
problem might be, also about this list. She's in the Kirksville,
Missouri area.
Tony

> ------- Begin Forwarded Message -------
>
> Subject:     Total newbie to Vanagons and some desperate questions
> From:        Sabrina <sabkath1of4@yahoo.com>
> Newsgroups:  rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
> Date:        5 Dec 2001 23:33:35 -0800
>
> Hello,
> I have had an '85 water cooled(I think) 7 passenger Vanagon since
> mid-June and I have exhausted my sources in my small town to find a
> fellow VW owner. I have a couple questions.
> Is there anyone on the list who knows of a mechanic in the Kirksville,
> Missouri area? Is there anywhere on the web I can go to to find
> someone in my area? is there such a thing as a club for VW owners in
> Missouri?
>
> I am also having a problem with my van starting and I hope that
> someone can suggest a possible problem/solution.
>
> My van will start the first time to go somewhere no problem and then
> after I try to start it again it won't . It hesitates and seems likes
> it drags and won't turn over, then it just seems like the batteries
> dead but I still have power for the dash lights and such. Then if I
> wait for a period of time, or get someone to put jumper cables to it,
> it will start up like nothing ever happened.
> The whole van had been gone over with a fine tooth comb and rebuilt
> before my father turned it over and I have had this problem since
> about July not too bad at first, I thought it was just me learning to
> drive a manual again with a picky vehicle. Then while I was at my
> MIL's in Nowhere, MO, after driving it about 3-4 hours and was driving
> home and it just stopped running  and wouldn't atart again. We had it
> towed to the only mechanic in the area and had the alternater
> replaced. It seemed to be fine and then a few days later it started
> again being slow in starting and sometimes having to wait. Now it
> won't go to the post office and then get me to the store without
> having to be jumped or let sit for a few hours. I don't drive it much,
> to the PO every day and errands a few times a week. I was waiting on
> major trips until I was used to it and then the first time I tried,
> the alternater went. Since then I have been a bit afraid to try
> anything long distance and now I'm to the point of not even going
> anywhere in it.
> Does anyone have any suggestions? I really need to do something soon
> as my families lives are pretty much being put on hold.
>
> Thanks,
> Sabrina
>
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>
>
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this is coming to you from Anthony Bailey KC0HZP
(mailto:abailey@mac.com) Marble Hill, Missouri 63764