And this is where the test drive and your guys experience comes in...

A full auto tranny fluid change can be hazardous, or so I've heard...
Perhaps I should just pump out 2 quarts and put in 2 quarts? And do
this every oil change until I drop the pan and do a full service?

And the van hasn't been totally Idle 5 years, every year it got
driven somewhere to warm it up. So far this year it's only been run
up to 30 MPH. I don't have anywhere to work on it so I won't get it
if it's not a safe running vehicle.

On Dec 2, 2007, at 12:40 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> Scott,
> I agree with you. My comments were based on getting it home. If the
> tranny
> has oil in the water from condensation, damage is already done. If no
> damage, then the trip home will partly dry it out. I have had
> trannies in
> the garage actually fill with water from heating the garage in winter.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> Scott Daniel - Shazam
> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 10:29 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon.
>
> I can not concur about not doing the trannie oil.
> Sitting for 5 years, so much moisture condensed in there you wouldn't
> believe it.
> Needs an immediate change as soon as the van gets home.
> I recently picked up this 'strange van' , about a 7 hour drive away.
> I asked the shop that had it at the time ( they were working on it
> for the
> seller ) if it could sustain running on the freeway, they said they
> had no
> idea !
>   But I figured I could pull it off. I will say this, when I'm
> driving an
> untried, or been-dead-a-long time van, I just drive it straight and
> carefully, watch what I can, and keep going, and don't even try things
> like
> horn , radio or even wipers lest some weird short develop or
> something, if
> I
> don't need those systems.  Like just get it there first, THEN go
> messin'
> and
> testing.'    We drove 7 hours to get it, so it wasn't like we could
> leave
> it
> there if we discovered a few small problems.
>   But letting anything sit is really, really bad for it, all systems.
> Letting a vehicle sit is one of the very worst things you can do
> for it,
> and
> ALL fluids need changing after that.  Badly so.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> Dennis Haynes
> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 6:23 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon.
>
> If it is currently running why worry too much.
> I would mostly do inspections of hoses, belts, and of course
> brakes. Don't
> worry about changing tranny oil. 5 years is not that bag a deal.
> Carefully
> check the fuel hoses to avoid surprises. Do some local test
> driving. If
> all is ok, then go for the trip home. Make sure you have your tow
> insurance ready and of course be careful. You are going to insure and
> register first?
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> Kai Mei
> Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 5:01 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Rebooting a idle 87 vanagon.
>
> Anyone got a fresh perspective on this? Thanks.
>
> I'm buying a van that has been sitting for 5 years... Run only once
> every year or so.. long enough to warm up the engine. Every year was
> the year he was "gonna do something with the van" but building his
> house was taking up all the time. It was covered with a car cover (i
> know paint abrades)... Currently it does not leak and all electrics
> work except the front blower motor (which worked 5 years ago).
>
> Before being laid up... regular maintenance, Mobil One... coolant
> hoses changed, new paint (but not with windows out so theres some
> rust near the window seals. This year Rear brake lines were rusted
> out... those got replaced.
>
> Currently running. tires are cracked... good thing I have a set in my
> brownstone front yard, lol.
>
> My plan is bring my tires. change the oil, do some driving, change
> the oil again and auto tranny fluid.
>
> Jump the fuel pump and listen for noise... test fuel pressure. I
> think fuel lines were changed,
>
> Can I disable the Idle stab. and just pull a spark plug wire w/o ill
> effect to the ignition?
>
> I'm also going to bring my O2 sensor monitor and see if it's bouncing
> properly.
>
> Test for brake fade, rusty rotors and burnt tranny fluid and drive
> home 6.5 hours at 55mph.
>
> Any other suggestions?