Until today, Mine hasn't given any trouble in months. Basic reliability
has been very good. If anything is about to happen it usually gives me
fair warning, so maintenance is not usually a problem. I have 75,000 on
a locally rebuilt engine and it just keeps on going and going and going.

I think that many of the problems that occur are the result of neglect.
Any machine wears out, and if the PO or whomever, ignores the
maintenance ... look out. Often a new owner gets stuck with the
accumulated problems, and then one day the dam bursts and there is a
string of expensive fixes that must take place in a short period. They
then have the view that Vanagons are problematic. I don't really think so.

After I fix the fuel tank vents, whose problem is the result of age ---
18 years of dry rot in the rubber and 180,000 odd miles - I would take
my van anywhere.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Tabe Johnson wrote:
> I haven't had to open the engine cover in the
> last two months.  The van starts, runs, and
> stops just the way it should.  I read about
> everyone else's problems -- what am I doing wrong?
>
>
>
> tabe johnson/87 westy
> (ok, ok, it took me 2 years to get it this way!)
>
>
>