Over the years the Vanagons and their foibles haven't changed, just the
people that own and maintain them. They are a wonderful beast, but one must
be just a little sympathetic to their plight, as who knows (besides those
that have owned theirs from new) who was in there before you. If every new
owner could just have a free "Berlitz-Language" course in Vanagon, it might
be a smoother learning curve.

I love browsing the archives. Try "radiator fan" in the "subject" search
sometime, and don't restrict the time frame (in years) of your search. You
will also start to see who's been around the longest too.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Anonymous Digest
Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 4:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Trusting Your Machine, point A

>Anyway, maintenance and attention are absolutely necessary, I think.

Certainly the truth, as with all vehicles that qualify for AARP benefits <g>

>Bob Stevens

>From: "Jack" <john.cook58@VERIZON.NET>
>snip-The only time it it embarrassed me was a failed
>> clutch on the road but, it was MY fault! snip-I am interested in seeing
>> the same thoughts going
>> on by many on this list.

I am figuring that if there was a database created listing all the failures
that
have occured to everyone over the years, it might be a safe bet to say that
2/3
of them are not really unique "vanagon" issues, so much as just old age, the
same as with any older vehicle.

I was going to keep a small list and see what showed up, but I am too lazy.
Even
over the last week, in relation to the original post about Trusting Your
Machine, we see CV Joints, Alternators, Fuel Pumps, Clutch, and tire issues,
but
surely no one can attribute those problems to anything more than what can,
and
does happen, with many older cars. If those issue scare folks off of a
vanagon,
they will still find them on most other vehicles over time. Nothing special
there.

Certainly some things are trully "Vanagon" alone, like the dreaded cylinder
head
leaks, and the 'syndrome.' but for the most part, if we step back we will
see
that the problems we face are usually no different than anyone else deals
with
on their old cars.

After considering it for a while, I think that, at least in my case, the
conclusion is that its not so much of a concern that the Van will break
down,
since I have several cars with over 150K on them that could just as well
fail
me. Its a matter of who will be able to fix it that causes any stress on me
when
I travel. Its not like any old shop has the know-how, or even access to
parts
for a vanagon.

A cell phone gets AAA to come and tow you, but where will they take  you
that
can fix your machine? I own a Ford Taurus and have no real concerns about
getting parts if needed, they are as common as can be, so when I travel in
it, I
don't worry much, because if it happens, it happens, and I will not have too
much trouble finding a shop to fix me up. Certainly, that can not be said
for a
Vanagon. That's why we need knowledge and ability to make as many repairs as
we
can on our own.

Perhaps we can effect some kind of mindset adjustment away from what a
picky,
touchy, and difficult vehicle a Vanagon can be, (which it really is not) to
make
it more of a lament about how hard it is to find the expertise to maintain
and
repair it? Lets face it, short of the Beetle and some other low end cars,
most
vehicles are not all that easy to work one, and they do have their own
idiosyncrosies (sp) that must be dealt with. Just the sheer volume of those
cars
being repaired tends to cover up those points because so many know how to
work
around them, and what to expect.

The "problem" with the Vanagon is simply the lack of expertise and
experience in
the mainstream, which only serves to bolster the case that this, and a few
other
lists/sources, are invaluable to us. That probably also will explain why
when
some folks quit  the list for whatever reason, some put for the notion that
we
are all doomed, when in fact, its not one person, but the collective
experience,
that makes the list so useful. No one person knows all about them, but
together,
its an impressive library.

Man, I have to get outside and find something else to do today! :-)

John