In a message dated 12/10/2002 2:18:22 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> Vanagon in a car wash

    Laurence, I run my '87 through the auto car washes here in Ottawa area 
all the time, ESPECIALLY, in the winter.  I always take the "full protection 
wash" as it has the under car wash option.  No problems except for some water 
getting in through the skylight seal.  Any water getting in the air vents in 
back is good as the salt smush gets in there too and needs to be flushed out. 
 Next time your in your engine compartment look behind the LH tail light and 
see what's going on.  Spray this area with some good rust preventative oil 
like Krown or Fluid Film.  Same goes for behind the RH tail light but you 
have to remove the tail light to get in there easily.  Also good idea to take 
the van to one of the manual car washes now and then on a mild day during 
winter driving and spritz out the engine compartment and give it a good spray 
in there with the Krown or Fluid Film.  If your gonna drive your Westy in the 
winter in these salt laden conditions then you gotta do some preventative 
measures to combat the salt.  When I returned from my trip to Pittsburgh last 
week the Westy was nearly white all over from salt.  Off to the auto car wash 
right away and get it off.  Sometimes it takes two goes when it's really bad. 
 Problem is if it's really cold out you'll end up with frozen door locks, ask 
me how I know !!  Not funny trying to get in the van at 6:30 pm in a dark and 
below 20 parking lot !!

       AND, NO, I did not get anywhere with the cold start problem.  Got 
many, many messages from people with the same problem wanting to know my 
solution when I find it !  HA !  Seems to be a Vanagon virus infliction for 
sure.  Maybe better take it over for one of those free flue shots the health 
system here is giving out.

Cheers��

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2003
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/">IWCCC</A> & Capital City VW Club 
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A> �
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com