Ben,

So the answer to my original question is to find vulnerable parts that
have been gently used, and continue to use them gently?

Mark

On Feb 3, 2011, at 4:52 AM, BenT Syncro wrote:

> Mark,
>
> Most are likely impact damage. Door starts to close. Driver
> instinctively kicks it open -- at the map pockets. Newbie owner
> tries to remove or adjust column cover and doesn't realize there are
> screws holding it in place. Brake fluid reservoir -- it's not made
> of steel. Don't over tighten and they should not break. Ever seen
> paint scratches on the hardened paint finish on door handle recess
> in most cars? They endure the same sharp nail attacks by driver's
> opening doors. People with big Carat Diamond Rings make some very
> interesting scratches on car parts. The inside handle inserts should
> have removed more gingerly. Visor clips are in the sun all the time.
> When the driver was surprised by sudden change of terrain and
> subsequent exposure to the setting sun, grabs sunvisor hard and
> voila. Cracked. Heater control panel? That's a first for me.
>
> These plastics have survived well into their expected service life.
> Cars are rarely designed to last a lifetime. They should have am age
> multiplier. Sort of like dog years. Let's say 1:4. Parts life would
> be multiplied by four compared to our life expectancy. A 20 year old
> car would then be about 80 in 'Vanagon years'. You don't really
> expect every part of your body will survive daily battles unscathe,
> did you? Looking at my chest, I have three yellowish bruises from an
> overzealous fencer from my saber lessons last week. I'm feeling like
> a well used plastic door handle.
>
>
> BenT
>
> Sent from my mobile device
>
> On Feb 3, 2011, at 4:27 AM, "Mark L. Hineline" <hineline@OCOTILLOFIELD.NET
> > wrote:
>
>> Ben, if you have rarely seen the damage I mention, it's possible
>> that one of the DPOs of my Vanagon with brown parts may have been
>> overzealous when tightening screws. However, I observe brittle and
>> damaged plastics in this list of parts:
>>
>> Steering column cowl
>> Map pockets
>> Heater control panel (the molding that holds the light is cracked)
>> Brake fluid reservoir
>> Door pulls (they all seem to be scraped and scratched)
>> Inside door latch inserts
>> Visor clips
>>
>> And so on. In the junkyards I have yet to find a map pocket that
>> isn't damaged at the screws.
>>
>> Maybe it's because we get sun down here in San Diego, and you
>> hardly ever do?
>>
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> On Feb 3, 2011, at 4:13 AM, BenT Syncro wrote:
>>
>>> I might have not assumed your column cover needed repairs where
>>> they are commonly cracked at the clip had you been more specific
>>> about the damage on your cover.;-) Have never seen any column
>>> covers crack at the screws in the 30+ Vanagons I've owned. I have
>>> seen them damaged on my B4 Passat though. The repair consisted of
>>> finding a suitable washer larger than the damaged hole. That would
>>> not help a split piece.
>>>
>>> The covers are relatively easy to find and inexpensive around my
>>> area. It would likely cost me more money buying epoxy glue in an
>>> attempt to repair the area than it would cost to buy a
>>> replacement. Last time I needed to replace a missing cover, a
>>> local shop sold me the piece for $3. They even threw in the map
>>> light as long as I took them off myself. When the attachment clip
>>> is missing, they just give them to me for free. Screws or rivets
>>> fixes them better than new.
>>>
>>> Now, you didn't mention color. Brown ones are just starting to
>>> become scarce. Black ones are still plentiful.
>>>
>>>
>>> BenT
>>