Hi all,
 
I just posted my beloved 1988 WLE on _www.thesamba.com_ 
(http://www.thesamba.com) 
 
_http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=188699_ 
(http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=188699) 
 
I'm the original owner, and don't really want to part with her, but the  time 
has come.
 
More photos can be seen at: _www.syncro.photosite.com_ 
(http://www.syncro.photosite.com) 
(This van is NOT a Syncro.)
 
Regards,
Jim Davis
 
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Description:
 
     
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg, WLE, like  Carat - $2,700. 
See more photos at: _www.Syncro.photosite.com_ 
(http://www.syncro.photosite.com/)  (This van is NOT a Syncro)  

1988 Volkswagen Vanagon GL, Wolfsburg Limited Edition 
(Like a  Carat model, but 1 year before VW used that name.) 
Original Owner,  Automatic Transmission, Power Steering, Power Door Locks, 
Power Heated  Mirrors, Power Windows, Cruise Control, Alloy Wheels (5), 142,595 
Miles,  Great Body and Interior Condition, Complete Accessories, Not Running  

Accessory Items Included with purchase of ‘88 Vanagon WLE:  
Original Window Sticker 
Original 1988 Vanagon Brochure  
Original Door/Ignition Keys, Two (2) 
Original Glovebox Key  
Original Key Serial Number Tags 
Spare Key (duplicate, not VW)  
Pioneer KEH-P4800 Cassette Stereo (4 x 40 Watts) 
Two California  “BXONWLS” License Plates (Box On Wheels) 
Front “European Style”  License Plate “BXONWLS” 
“Wolf” Brand Vinyl Front End Cover “Bra”  
Windshield Sunshade 
Tinted Windows – Dark in rear, light on  driver’s & passenger’s windows 
Additional Grab handles above front  doors and on driver’s A-pillar 
Additional convenience light above  driver’s door 
Complete Set of Custom-Fit Floor Mats (Lloyd’s Brand??)  
Rear Seat Outside Shoulder Belts 
(These were factory belts I  installed. VW didn’t include them until ’89 or ‘
90. 
Lap belts still  installed which work better with baby seats.) 
Original Jack with  plastic storage bag. 
Original Lug Wrench 
Original Phillips/Flat  Screwdriver 
Original 10/13mm Open End Wrench 
Hella “flexi-stem”  Reading Lamp Mounted above the passenger window 
Complete Snap-in  Curtain set, Rarely Used, Perfect Condition, Includes: 
Left Side  Windows, Right Side Windows, Rear Hatch Window, 
Cab-separator, and  original plastic storage bag. 
Original Literature Including:  
Silver Plastic Storage Pouch 
Owner’s Manual 
Dealer Directory,  June ’87 Edition 
Quality Assurance System paperwork 
Maintenance  Booklet 
Warranty Booklet 
Air Conditioner Supplement to Owner’s  Manual 
Consumer Warranty Brochure 

Mileage: 
Odometer reads  118810, but original odometer was replaced under warranty at 
23,785 miles,  so actual total mileage is: 142,595. 

General Information:  
-------------------------- 
Not Running: 
In late 2001, this van  (after many years of faithful service) started making 
an unusual clacking  (clicking?) or knocking sound in the engine. I was 
listening to is while  the engine ran, attempting to determine if this was lifter 
clicking or  something worse. While listening to the engine I decided it was 
too dirty.  I sprayed on some engine de-greaser and hosed it off, as I’ve done 
many  times, on many vehicles successfully. This time however I did not protect 
 the distributor well enough from the water and the van would not re-start.  
I opened and dried the distributor, and attempted to re-start. Still no  
start. I opened the distributor again and discovered that I had not been  careful 
reassembling it, and the attempted re-start tore off internal  wires and bent 
the little metal shield. After this the vehicle was parked  and there has not 
been any attempt to restart it. So, this means it at  least needs a new 
distributor (or replacement parts). And frankly the  sound I was hearing before I “
cleaned” the engine sounded more like  knocking than clicking, but I’m not 
sure. 

Tires: 
Van has  Michelin MXT tires, size 205/70R14, max load rating 1709lbs at 
50PSI.  These tires have about 90% of their tread wear left and “mileage-wise” are 
 almost new. However, these were put on not long before the van was parked  
and have been sitting for about 4 years, without driving. I’m concerned  that 
these tires may have to be replaced, but this would be up to you and  your tire 
supplier. All wheels are original VW five-spoke alloy wheels,  even the spare 
has the alloy wheel. 

The Good:  
----------------- 
Original Owner: 
This vehicle is being sold  by the original owner. Service was regularly 
completed, and synthetic oil  was used with discipline. This vehicle served our 
family well for many  years, 1988 – 2001. I really love this van and actually 
hate to part with  it. But, now that our kids are 17 and 14 it is no longer 
needed by our  family ( I also have an ’87 Syncro). If you do the math, you’ll 
find we  bought it shortly after our 17 year old was born. What a great baby  
carrier! 

Wolfsburg Limited Edition: 
The Wolfsburg model is  really great and was important in my original 
decision to buy a VW van. I  love the rear-facing seating configuration making a 
great conversation  area. Also, these rear-facing seats are very easily removed to 
make for a  VERY large cargo area. Big enough to hold a full-size roll-top 
desk. Yes,  I did carry our roll-top desk in there on the way home from the 
furniture  store. I love this seating arrangement so much, I removed the forward  
facing seat from my 1987 Vanagon Syncro and installed rear-facing seats  just 
like the Wolfsburg models. The Wolfsburg also comes with a fold-down  side 
table on the driver’s side. With it in the “UP” position, it makes a  perfect 
eating, writing, planning, or mapping table for those in the rear.  

Great Body Condition / No Rust: 
The body is in near-perfect  condition. Despite being 17 years old, the body 
is in near-perfect  condition and there are no signs of rust. None. Really, I 
mean it, I can’t  find any signs of rust. Ahhh, the life of a California 
vehicle! This  vehicle has never been in an accident, and no body repairs have been 
 damaged or repaired. The only reason I don’t say “perfect condition” is  
that there is one very small dent on the sliding door. I’m certain that it  can 
be removed by one of those “paint-less dent removal” services. I was  going 
to take a photo of the dent, but I couldn’t see the dent through the  camera, 
so I didn’t. It’s about 1.3” long and about the depth of 5 sheets  of paper. 
(I used a ruler and paper as a “feeler gage”.) It’s really very  small. 

Complete Accessories: 
Please see the list of what’s  included with this purchase. I’m sure that no 
other van I’ve seen sold has  come with all the original items like this one, 
even including the  original window sticker! 

Great Interior Condition: 
The  interior is in very good condition. Please look closely at the  
photographs. It was well taken care of by us, and cleaned regularly. The  carpets are 
in very good condition mostly due to the fact that they’ve  always been 
covered by the custom-fit mat set that we got from the dealer  when we purchased the 
van. While the mats took a few spills they protected  the VW carpet 
underneath that has rarely seen the light of day. The dash  sun shield has protected 
the dash and it shows no signs of craking or  fading. The vehicle smells fresh 
inside because it HAS NEVER ONCE BEEN  SMOKED IN. All the interior items 
function well. Seats fold, slide,  recline properly. From armrests are in good 
condition and are not “wobbly”  as some get at this age. One little thing though, 
the glovebox has two  tabs which hold it in the open position, and one is 
broken off – still  function fine though. I’ve installed a couple handy switches 
you might be  interested in. One cuts off the A/C compressor for short term 
use while  motoring up a grade. Another pair of switches control the interior 
lights  – one turns on all the interior lights that ate in the “door” position. 
 The other turns off all the lights even if the doors are open.  
Heaters, fans, windows, door locks, instruments, defroster, mirrors,  etc all 
worked fine when last used. 

No Engine or Transmission  Leaks: 
At the time the vehicle was parked, it didn’t leak anything  from the engine 
or transmission, including engine oil, coolant, or ATF.  Since it’s been 
sitting for years, I couldn’t predict what it might do  today though. Sometimes 
seals “dry-out” with non use and age.  

The Bad:  
----------------- 
Engine: 
The engine is not currently running.  See the story in the “General 
Information” section. Before being parked,  the coolant temperature would sometimes 
climb fairly high when in  stop-and-go traffic, but would drop again when the van’
s speed picked up.  

Transmission: 
The Automatic Transmission began occasionally  slipping about 5,000 miles 
before the vehicle was parked. It was only  occaisional and adding some ATF 
Additive all but stopped the slipping,  which still happened once in a while. After 
sitting for years, I couldn’t  predict how the transmission would respond 
today. I would expect that it  will need servicing or rebuilding soon. 

Power Steering Rack:  
The power steering rack had a fluid leak before the van was parked.  The leak 
was not very much volume, and I hardly had to add any fluid, but  
nevertheless it was leaking and will need to be repaired or replaced.  

Air Conditioning: 
The AC was not working when the van was  parked. I believe it was just a 
small leak that caused the trouble, as I  recharged it and it worked fine for 
several weeks before the cold went  away. I was deliberating over whether or not 
to have it repaired with the  original “old style” refrigerant or the “new 
stuff”. At the time all sorts  of rumors were flowing around about what you need 
to do to convert to the  new stuff, and I was waiting for consensus before 
doing the work. Now,  it’s a moot point and the only refrigerant is the new 
stuff, and all shops  have years of experience doing conversions. 

Cruise Control 
The  vacuum actuator for the cruise control developed a tear in it and so 
could  no longer actuate the throttle. I removed this part. I believe that  
replacing this part will have the cruise control working again.  

The Ugly: 
---------------- 
Paint on the Top of the  Roof 
The paint on the top of the van’s roof definitely shows the van’s  17 year 
old age and is in poor condition. It should be repainted to make  the van 
really look “prime again”. This also effects places on the tops of  the bumpers 
where the sun has taken it’s toll. However, the paint most  other places on the 
van is still in good condition. It could stand some  TLC with buffing, waxing, 
etc before it would really look good though.  

Missing Fluorescent Light Cover 
The interior fluorescent light  over the table is missing a little gray 
plastic cover which normally  covers some electrical  components.