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Subject:Maintenance
From:JRodgers
Date:Wed, 3 Oct 2012 22:27:45 -0500

Got several maintenance projects coming up on my '88GL 'Ol Red.

(1) - repair rusted out spot where gas pedal attaches to and is hinged
to the floor. Got a piece of stainless steel sheet to put in there.
Going to sand as best I can, the use Naval Jelly or similar to pickle
the steel in the tunnel and floor. After that - install patch, seal with
some kind of pucky, then blind rivet in place.
(2) Warning lights on the left side don't work - but works on the right
side. Left turn signal lights work. Gotta figure that on out and fix.
(3)Left bright headlight out. Relays have been installed. Going to
upgrade to 100 watts.
(4) Locate squeaking wheel. Driving me nuts going down the road going
wow-wow-wow-wow-wow. No vibration, no out of alignment - just makes a
noise as the wheel turns. The wow-wow changes speed as the vehicle
changes speed. Swapped off three wheels so far - one more to go. Hope
it's in the last one - otherwise it's a running gear/suspension problem.
(5)Fix tach. Works sometimes, doesn't work most times. Gonna have to
spend some time trouble shooting.
(6)Replace muffler and tail pipes

The AC was rebuilt last fall and performed well until middle of the
summer then slowly lost it's refrigerant charge. Recharged it and by the
time the weather began to cool off the charge was down again. Will have
to find and fix the leak. There are times in winter here in the south
when the AC needs to be run to keep the inside of the windshield from
fogging. Sounds kinda counter intuitive, but that the way it is. Turn on
the AC, turn on the fans, and stir that air!!  Besides - in a Vanagon
(and prol'ly all other cars) you need to run the AC once a week for a
bit to keep the seals lubricated so they don't dry out and lose
refrigerant during the winter. It frequently happens just as summer
arrives and you need it or the first time since last fall.

John