Lady VW Owner needs recon engine, please help!

[audreydavies]

My beautiful T25 Campervan has stood idle since October after being brought home on the back of a breakdown truck. No one has actually looked at it for me, everyone in my local garages are too booked up for months (?) The van was a perfect runner and used every day by myself, but now I don't know what to do. It has even taken me ages to get onto this forum as I am not a technical girl!
The engine is petrol, a lot of white smoke (steam?) belched out the back of her then all the red hot water drained out onto the floor. I was told by north wales recovery that it was probably the cylinder head. Others have advised it will probably need a new engine, but no one has looked at it. I am hopelessley stuck now. And unless the VW Fairy Godmother steps in, I am reluctantly thinking of selling my beautiful van as a non-runner. I live near Wigan in Lancashire, please if anyone knows anyone out there (garage or otherwise) who can help me, please make contact. My mobile number is 07716 184347.

Thanks for reading,
Audrey.

[peteabbott]

Thats so sad Audry, if was near to you I would willingly help out but I am on the other coast. I hope someone close steps in to give you a bit of solid advice and help you out a bit. Good luck.

[R0B]

it could be something as simple as an expansion tank cap that needs replacing.

[gauntlets]

I had the expansion cap problem last year, quite like an overheating engine, lots of bubbling and boiling noises and coolant coming out of the overfill spout. I hope your problem is this as it only costs £12 for a new cap from JK. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[kevtherev]

well Audry you've made a good start now , as here is the place to find that Fairy.

I'm sure there will be a kind hearted member in your area that will help in any way they can.
let's just wait and see now

Oh just so you know
recon engines cost £900 with a warranty

[audreydavies]

Thank you for your replies, I don't feel quite so alone now! I have had a couple of offers from some very kind people to come and have a look at it just need to arrange a definite time/day. Difficult due to full time working, so maybe next weekend I may have some good news. At least I'm smiling again.

[Aidan]

Audrey
Marcus has a 1.9 engine and gearbox for sale at very reasonable price if required, sell the gearbox on ebay to pay for the fitting of the engine

[Mushr00m]

"...a lot of white smoke (steam?) belched out the back of her then all
the red hot water drained out onto the floor.

Did this white smoke come from the exhaust or literally the back(Tailgate/Reg Plate area)?

[audreydavies]

I have posted this due to the email response to my advert to sell the van.

The problem I had with the van was due to it overheating. The thermostat had never worked since I bought it and being very naive I didn't worry about it when a garage friend said it didn't matter! We got stuck on a single track welsh hillside at a 90 degree angle (!) and the van simply overheated. This was sorted out with a new thermostat, a new temperature sensor unit, and a new fan no.1 sensor and a new cap for the water bottle. Total cost to fix, less than £100 including labour. Thus I saved lots of money and didn't need a new engine after all. We have been away in it lots of times since and not had any problems whatsoever.
And the moral of this story is "don't listen to everyone else who have never had a VW, join Club 80-90 and speak to the experts"

[Gadders]

Good result....