Club 80-90 Forums

Always think, why has fuse blown?, if not you better buy a packet full.
Look for short, chafed wires, motors burnt out , switches burnt out?
Fuses are there for a reason so look for the cause of blowing.
Also bad earths plague old vans too

Bit early for a cracked head?, gasket should have been ok for 100K, was it torqued right?, is it now warped?, prob need a new head at least . You are chucking money/work at a half finished job if you just do the gasket? Why overheated, is rad blocked?, pipes ok etc. Find the cause. Unless it is a ch...

Be aware that the sign of the engine on the way to its (re)maker is loss of coolant, through cracks in the head. There are cracks from 50K onwards but they get bigger and by 100K usually start losing coolant until it is too much to keep filling . Usually by then engine worn out any way so get a dece...

life expectancy? 100K if you are lucky, based on own experience + that of independant VW garage. can be as little as 70K if thrashed and not maintained to standards.
It's horses for courses- a short fast life or a longer , boring, life for the motor

Do you have bubbles or water churning in the expansion tank when you rev it up? Could be allsorts of things 1) cracked head losing water (worse) 2) leak of pipes/joints 3) block rad and leaks 4) never been topped up for years bleeding is easy on a diesel, but they should run at half way unless in ho...

I have the service schedule that came with the 1986 vehicle. The first service at 1,000km says check valve clearances, but no mention is made again for later services at all. It is not listed as a service item by VAG and would therefore not get looked at ( I have to presume). In the Russek guide it ...

yes difficult to check dipstick without one to compare with? But I would say that 1000 to the litre for use of oil on a 'recon' would be the limit of acceptability.W hen my motor was 'new' as with VW engine, it used NO oil between changes at all.( 4000 miles) so they are not designed to use oil. The...

according to Russek the code CS means a 1.6 with 49BHP at 4200rpm, does it matter where it was first if it's in the ven?, although it may well have been in a lawnmower previously

A coil of wire is always useful, and a hammer for hitting the starter if it plays up. Mole wrench, tools to tighten belts But at 20+ years old , you are starting to need faith to venture forth unless you are adept at running repairs and sourcing bits. They are fairly easy to get in Germany, as you'd...

£400 from Midland Turbos at Colick near Notts
That is recon of course!, but mine looked like new and works like new.
How long are you keeping the motor?, if a week don't bother, if 10 years , then fine.
I've had mine 17 years now so don't fit crap worn out bits

Hi What source was the recon?, and who fitted it? I have a VEGE recon fitted by independent VW garage that checked the turbo before fitting engine, this was at 108K. Turbo went at 140K, but not using oil, was 'noisey', a bit like stick in bike wheel , at times. The engine uses some oil, say 500ml in...

This is not the only one to have problems with water! You say new head- that means new?, and not been cracked by overheating . Is the expansion tank quite 'still' when revving, i.e. no air coursing through it? You mean new rad too?, as from a VW agent with the receipt? try drilling couple 1/8th hole...

Were heaters made because people wanted them, or because they were there? I find it amazing, I've been 'vanning since the 70s in T2/T25 and only used bedding and 'natural ' warmth ( the wife). And now there is Global Warming , never had that in my day. get insulated, ( therom screen great)get good b...

'power' is realative, but 2500 seems way too high for th eturbo to show effect. this should be 2000 rpm or below , otherwise its going to be a hectic journey.
as for the top end. 4500 is about the end of the road for this van, so it is narrow but the 5 gears are there to make full use of it?

I believe that the KY engine was the last attempt to improve the performance. Th CS was 49BHP for a 2.4t van :shock: :shock: but the Ky wasn't many more. the TD is only 70BHP and that is only 'passable' in these days. I would think 100BHP is more the aim nowadays. but for the nostalgia of creeping a...