On Wed, 28 Aug 2002, Larry Chase wrote:

> Current plan is to replace existing parts that seem to be fine with new and
> use the originals for spares.

I personally wouldn't do this, unless you have time to drive the van
around for a couple weeks before taking it out.  You know the current
parts are good, because the van's running on them -- why take a chance on
a bunch of replacements you can't be sure about?

My rule of thumb is to avoid doing major maintenance at the last minute
before a long trip, if at all possible.  Give it at *least* a week of
driving in between so you know your repair hasn't broken something else,
and the new parts are good.  Parts replacements are disruptive -- bolts
get loosened, hoses get shoved around, electrical connectors get
disturbed.  All of these can cause problems of their own that won't crop
up until after a few hours of vibration.  And new parts sometimes suffer
'infant mortality.'

I think an alternator may be over-cautious.  They don't fail *that* often,
you can get quite a ways with a bad one by getting battery charges at auto
parts stores, and most places can probably get one in a day at most.  The
ECU also strikes me as overkill -- yes, it's important, but how often do
they actually fail?  That's a pretty expensive part to buy 'just in case',
especially when there are a few vendors that you can get one overnighted
from.  If it makes you sleep better, though, it may be worth the money.

You may want to carry a few sizes of coolant hose patch kits, just in case
-- the little barbed connectors and clamps they sell in auto parts stores.

             _ _
  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)              Ypsilanti, MI
 / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------------------
| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
 \__, |\__,_|_|_| "The VW camper is a brilliant invention -- it's like a
 |___/             Swiss army knife for the road... It's the stealth RV."
                                                        -- Wayne Curtis