Jim,

Why is your van not running???

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Jim Davis wrote:

>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
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>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.
>
>
>
>