Steve Dalton on mon 24 jan 11
I've followed most of the vehicle repair postings. Every few years this is =
brought back up. I wanted to share what I discovered and purchased for my v=
ehicles.
I found on ebay the actual service manuals used by the dealerships and repa=
ir shops. I've used these manuals before when I worked at Sears Automotive =
and Les Schwab. They are more in depth than the Chilton or Haynes manuals y=
ou might find at your local parts store. Compare maybe 200 pages versus 800=
+.
These books are year specific instead of the usual broad spectrum. They hav=
e a better troubleshooting pyramid and contain the computer codes and what =
they mean.
Brand new, these manuals will run from $50 to $200. So far though for my 2 =
GMC's I've spent only $30 total on 2 used manuals.
Steve Dalton
Clear Creek Pottery
Snohomish, WA
Lee on mon 24 jan 11
On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 9:23 AM, Steve Dalton wrote=
=3D
:
> I've followed most of the vehicle repair postings. Every few years this i=
=3D
s brought back up. I wanted to share what I discovered and purchased for my=
=3D
vehicles.
> I found on ebay the actual service manuals used by the dealerships and re=
=3D
pair shops. I've used these manuals before when I worked at Sears Automotiv=
=3D
e and Les Schwab.
You'd like to see them get back to cars that are more easily worked on
by the owner. As mentioned in Shop Class For the Soul, there are
even some very expensive cars that don't provide for the owner adding
or changing oil. They are hermetically sealed and if you get low on
oil, an idiot light tells you to go visit your dealer.
--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/
=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
John Rodgers on mon 24 jan 11
Like the French, who long ago studied all the various atomic
powerplant designs, and settled on a single design they would
proliferate through their country for electric power - I cast about for
a vehicle to serve for the remainder of my life - and settled on the
Volkswagon Vanagon. While produced for the rest of the world until 2006
in the South African VW plant, it's production years for the USA and
Canada were from 1980 through 1991. The vehicle had an aircooled engine
until 1983.5 at which time the 1.9L WBX (wasserboxer - water cooled)
engine was introduced. In 1986 the 1.9L WBX engine was replaced by the
2.1L WBX. The WBX engines were very similar to the historical aircooled
engines of VW fame, just a water jacket was added to make the engines
more efficient. I found this smallish van to be perfect for my purposes,
and could not find anything else out there with the peculiar combination
of features that I particularly liked. The vehicle is imminently
upgradeable where power is concerned, with both the modern German
inline-four engines as well as the modern Suburu SVX engines being first
choices for modern engine up grades.
The vans come in different configurations, including camper versions
with four wheel drive. Designated Syncro Westfalia, these four wheel
drive campers are the most highly sought after and one sold last year
for $75,000. For my purposes, the plain version known as a "GL" was my
choice. These can be hand in good condition for around $4,000 to $5,000.
The design is good, and was done in such a way to make the van very easy
to work on and maintain. I do virtually all the work on my vans, with
the exception of engine changes. I'm to old to do all the under-the-van
scrambling for that. But all the rest - I do. For maintenance, I use the
Official VW Dealership repair manual. They can be bought now new for
around $100. I also use the Haynes manual - but the Haynes Vanagon
Manual is not available in the US, so I order it from England. And then
there is ETKA - the complete parts manual software. The blowups
available here are of enormous use in solving some maintenance riddles.
Since the first one, I have acquired two more Vanagons. I now have a
daily driver which takes me on my appointed daily rounds, an art show
van (stays loaded with show stuff - tent, tables, inventory, etc) and
there is a touring van - the latter known as a Vanagon Carat in which I
do my touring. Very plush - with curtains, captains chairs, fold out
table in the interior, seats four, drink holders for four, queen size
bed. It's equipped with air conditioning, electric windows and door
locks, power steering, four-wheel power disk brakes, peloquin automatic
transmission (posi-traction for automatics)
Yep. At age 72, I think I have all the vehicles I ever care to own.
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 1/24/2011 9:23 AM, Steve Dalton wrote:
> I've followed most of the vehicle repair postings. Every few years this i=
s brought back up. I wanted to share what I discovered and purchased for my=
vehicles.
> I found on ebay the actual service manuals used by the dealerships and re=
pair shops. I've used these manuals before when I worked at Sears Automotiv=
e and Les Schwab. They are more in depth than the Chilton or Haynes manuals=
you might find at your local parts store. Compare maybe 200 pages versus 8=
00+.
> These books are year specific instead of the usual broad spectrum. They h=
ave a better troubleshooting pyramid and contain the computer codes and wha=
t they mean.
> Brand new, these manuals will run from $50 to $200. So far though for my =
2 GMC's I've spent only $30 total on 2 used manuals.
>
> Steve Dalton
> Clear Creek Pottery
> Snohomish, WA
>
>
Larry Andre on mon 24 jan 11
?They have a tremendous cult following, with clubs in nearly state, lots of
parts available and generally quite reliable. Larry
-----Original Message-----
From: John Rodgers
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:58 AM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: repairing vehicles
Like the French, who long ago studied all the various atomic
powerplant designs, and settled on a single design they would
proliferate through their country for electric power - I cast about for
a vehicle to serve for the remainder of my life - and settled on the
Volkswagon Vanagon. While produced for the rest of the world until 2006
in the South African VW plant, it's production years for the USA and
Canada were from 1980 through 1991. The vehicle had an aircooled engine
until 1983.5 at which time the 1.9L WBX (wasserboxer - water cooled)
engine was introduced. In 1986 the 1.9L WBX engine was replaced by the
2.1L WBX. The WBX engines were very similar to the historical aircooled
engines of VW fame, just a water jacket was added to make the engines
more efficient. I found this smallish van to be perfect for my purposes,
and could not find anything else out there with the peculiar combination
of features that I particularly liked. The vehicle is imminently
upgradeable where power is concerned, with both the modern German
inline-four engines as well as the modern Suburu SVX engines being first
choices for modern engine up grades.
The vans come in different configurations, including camper versions
with four wheel drive. Designated Syncro Westfalia, these four wheel
drive campers are the most highly sought after and one sold last year
for $75,000. For my purposes, the plain version known as a "GL" was my
choice. These can be hand in good condition for around $4,000 to $5,000.
The design is good, and was done in such a way to make the van very easy
to work on and maintain. I do virtually all the work on my vans, with
the exception of engine changes. I'm to old to do all the under-the-van
scrambling for that. But all the rest - I do. For maintenance, I use the
Official VW Dealership repair manual. They can be bought now new for
around $100. I also use the Haynes manual - but the Haynes Vanagon
Manual is not available in the US, so I order it from England. And then
there is ETKA - the complete parts manual software. The blowups
available here are of enormous use in solving some maintenance riddles.
Since the first one, I have acquired two more Vanagons. I now have a
daily driver which takes me on my appointed daily rounds, an art show
van (stays loaded with show stuff - tent, tables, inventory, etc) and
there is a touring van - the latter known as a Vanagon Carat in which I
do my touring. Very plush - with curtains, captains chairs, fold out
table in the interior, seats four, drink holders for four, queen size
bed. It's equipped with air conditioning, electric windows and door
locks, power steering, four-wheel power disk brakes, peloquin automatic
transmission (posi-traction for automatics)
Yep. At age 72, I think I have all the vehicles I ever care to own.
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 1/24/2011 9:23 AM, Steve Dalton wrote:
> I've followed most of the vehicle repair postings. Every few years this i=
s
> brought back up. I wanted to share what I discovered and purchased for my
> vehicles.
> I found on ebay the actual service manuals used by the dealerships and
> repair shops. I've used these manuals before when I worked at Sears
> Automotive and Les Schwab. They are more in depth than the Chilton or
> Haynes manuals you might find at your local parts store. Compare maybe 20=
0
> pages versus 800+.
> These books are year specific instead of the usual broad spectrum. They
> have a better troubleshooting pyramid and contain the computer codes and
> what they mean.
> Brand new, these manuals will run from $50 to $200. So far though for my =
2
> GMC's I've spent only $30 total on 2 used manuals.
>
> Steve Dalton
> Clear Creek Pottery
> Snohomish, WA
>
>
John Rodgers on mon 24 jan 11
Never thought of myself as a cult sort of person - but yep, I guess I
am a Vanagon Cult follower.
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 1/24/2011 3:27 PM, larry@masonrytoolsonline.com wrote:
> ?They have a tremendous cult following, with clubs in nearly state,
> lots of parts available and generally quite reliable. Larry
>
> -----Original Message----- From: John Rodgers
> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:58 AM
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Re: repairing vehicles
>
> Like the French, who long ago studied all the various atomic
> powerplant designs, and settled on a single design they would
> proliferate through their country for electric power - I cast about for
> a vehicle to serve for the remainder of my life - and settled on the
> Volkswagon Vanagon. While produced for the rest of the world until 2006
> in the South African VW plant, it's production years for the USA and
> Canada were from 1980 through 1991. The vehicle had an aircooled engine
> until 1983.5 at which time the 1.9L WBX (wasserboxer - water cooled)
> engine was introduced. In 1986 the 1.9L WBX engine was replaced by the
> 2.1L WBX. The WBX engines were very similar to the historical aircooled
> engines of VW fame, just a water jacket was added to make the engines
> more efficient. I found this smallish van to be perfect for my purposes,
> and could not find anything else out there with the peculiar combination
> of features that I particularly liked. The vehicle is imminently
> upgradeable where power is concerned, with both the modern German
> inline-four engines as well as the modern Suburu SVX engines being first
> choices for modern engine up grades.
>
> The vans come in different configurations, including camper versions
> with four wheel drive. Designated Syncro Westfalia, these four wheel
> drive campers are the most highly sought after and one sold last year
> for $75,000. For my purposes, the plain version known as a "GL" was my
> choice. These can be hand in good condition for around $4,000 to $5,000.
> The design is good, and was done in such a way to make the van very easy
> to work on and maintain. I do virtually all the work on my vans, with
> the exception of engine changes. I'm to old to do all the under-the-van
> scrambling for that. But all the rest - I do. For maintenance, I use the
> Official VW Dealership repair manual. They can be bought now new for
> around $100. I also use the Haynes manual - but the Haynes Vanagon
> Manual is not available in the US, so I order it from England. And then
> there is ETKA - the complete parts manual software. The blowups
> available here are of enormous use in solving some maintenance riddles.
>
> Since the first one, I have acquired two more Vanagons. I now have a
> daily driver which takes me on my appointed daily rounds, an art show
> van (stays loaded with show stuff - tent, tables, inventory, etc) and
> there is a touring van - the latter known as a Vanagon Carat in which I
> do my touring. Very plush - with curtains, captains chairs, fold out
> table in the interior, seats four, drink holders for four, queen size
> bed. It's equipped with air conditioning, electric windows and door
> locks, power steering, four-wheel power disk brakes, peloquin automatic
> transmission (posi-traction for automatics)
>
> Yep. At age 72, I think I have all the vehicles I ever care to own.
>
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>
> On 1/24/2011 9:23 AM, Steve Dalton wrote:
>> I've followed most of the vehicle repair postings. Every few years
>> this is brought back up. I wanted to share what I discovered and
>> purchased for my vehicles.
>> I found on ebay the actual service manuals used by the dealerships
>> and repair shops. I've used these manuals before when I worked at
>> Sears Automotive and Les Schwab. They are more in depth than the
>> Chilton or Haynes manuals you might find at your local parts store.
>> Compare maybe 200 pages versus 800+.
>> These books are year specific instead of the usual broad spectrum.
>> They have a better troubleshooting pyramid and contain the computer
>> codes and what they mean.
>> Brand new, these manuals will run from $50 to $200. So far though for
>> my 2 GMC's I've spent only $30 total on 2 used manuals.
>>
>> Steve Dalton
>> Clear Creek Pottery
>> Snohomish, WA
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
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