After sitting for 5 years, you are looking at a lot of work. For
starters, you probably need new tires. These days, 7 year from
manufactured date or 5 years once placed in service. Next, brakes
probably wheel cylinders, calipers, possible hoses, and depending on
storage conditions, the master cylinder. The clutch cylinders may also
develop problems. All fluids should be changed. Based on age, you are
probably looking at some front end work and cooling hoses.

The 1.9 low coolant level sensor activates the warning light and sends
the gauge skyward. Having the warning activated after start up and then
being able to reset it after a shut down and restart indicates low
coolant level or air-combustion gasses in the system. Make sure the
overflow tank is full. If the system is only slightly low, it will suck
in the coolant it needs after a few warm up-cool down cycles. It is not
normal to regularly add coolant.

Overall, if you are looking to simply get in and drive, you got some
work coming. If the van is in good condition and the purchase price is
right, you can fix it up and get many good years out of it. Good Luck.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Robbie Cotner
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 7:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: So when a Westy sits for 5 years...

The early '85 Westy I'm looking at buying has been sitting more or less
for 5 years, apparently being driven about once a year during that time.
It was also given a "$500 servicing" at a local mechanic who knows
nothing about VW's about 2 years ago, they have no receipt so I don't
know what work was done, but I did notice it had all new belts.
What worries me:
-Since it has been sitting in the same spot in their driveway so long, I
noticed under the engine on the concrete a large, almost rectangular
patch of dark discoloration.  Coolant?  Oil?  I noticed none of either
leaking while the engine was running.
-The lady who owns it proudly said "all we had to do to start it back up
was charge the battery and put in some coolant!"  I do not know how much
coolant was added, is coolant loss of any sort "normal" over time?
-I drove the van home and inspected it as best I could top to bottom.
Ran a compression test that came out terribly but I suspect it was
because the spark plug areas were so dirty that a good seal was
impossible.  Didn't notice anything leaking looking up from below the
engine, the head gaskets looked good, soft and pliable from the outside.
Heres what scares me:  Started her up to bring it back after the
compression test(engine had been off for over two hours), within two
minutes of running the temperature gauge is nearing it's peak!!  The
coolant light comes on.  I don't see how it could get so hot so fast, so
while driving; I shut it off, and restart... the coolant light goes off,
and the needle falls to a more acceptable level.  However, now I'm
having troubles keeping the van running, it wants to die if I don't hold
it idling with my foot on the gas.  It had good power once you got
going, but when you came to idle at a stop it wanted to die.  I got it
back and didn't mention a
 thing about it to the owners, fearing they'd blame me for it as it did
not have this problem as I drove it away!  Any idea what happened?

I'm quite mechanically inclined and am willing to fix whatever may go
wrong with the Westy should I buy it; but I'm worried that after taking
a 5-year break from the 110,000 trouble-free miles it gave the original
owners an abundance of problems may inevitably show up upon restarting
its journeys.  What can I expect?

Thanks,

-Rob

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