Meet Flintstone, our 1992 1.9 Petrol Caravelle Syncro

[silverbullet]

All power to your elbow Mickey, it can't be funny working in those sorts of conditions

Like Paul, I will try not to complain about the cold ever again when winter spannering. Respect!

[Mickyfin]

All done and dusted now.

Been out for a run today, bloody starter motor frozen this time so had to tap it a few times with my breaker bar, and then it started, but power steering fluid frozen. So when it gets a little warmer I will be replacing the power steering filter, and replace the fluid with one that is fit for purpose.

[syncropaddy]

Power steering fluid frozen? Now thats a new on me, never heard of that before. Must have been old

[Mickyfin]

-32 the other day, -28 yesterday. I'm guessing the fluid has not been changed in years, thus losing its properties of frost protection.

[Mickyfin]

Update....

Temperature today was quite a bit warmer than the last couple of days. -11 today whereas the previous days were -28, and -32, and it was these extreme cold temperatures which was the result in my power steering being stiff.

Today's -11, my power steering works as it should, and better still, no whining from the pump

Being my first winter with my Syncro, and having decided to take your advice to use it rather than put it into storage, I'm now happy I did just that as I have now learned a few things more about Flint.

When the weather gets better/warmer, I will be replacing all the fluids, and ensure the properties are suitable for the extreme cold here.

Summary of driving in -32 conditions.

Loss of power steering, clutch very tight, and slow to engage, almost gives the impression its slipping, but its just a delay in linkage due to frost. Gearbox tight, selecting gears felt like your driving a tank.

Everything is tight, and hard, and you can feel every single little bump on the roads surface.

Brakes also very hard, central locking motors freeze, so does not work.

Frost on the inside of the windows is a pain in the rear, and has to be scrapped off just like the outers. I will be getting myself a defa cabin heater in time for next years winter for sure.

Oh, and due to -32, this was the reason one of my tyres rim seal gave up. Upon thawing out, and re-pumping it back up, having covered around 100km its been fine since.

[syncropaddy]

I spoke with a collegue who deals regularly with the Kemi Mine about 400 Kms north of where you are about your fluids freezing. They used to have issues like that but careful selection of 'Arctic spec' products sorted any problems they had. He reckons your fluids are old to be reacting to the cold like they are or possibly the wrong spec to begin with.

Plenty for you to do in the Summer !!

[Mickyfin]

Indeed, the fluids are on the list, and will ensure that the new stuff is proven fluid for arctic conditions

[Mickyfin]

Well I got stuck today

Like a numpty I didn't bother clearing the mound of snow around my Syncro, thinking, oh, it will be fine. How wrong

Basically I reversed over a high mound of snow, thus resulting in the backend being lifted, which in turn allowed one rear wheel to spin.

I have a rear locker, but not got it working yet, hoping its just a blocked pipe that needs sorting.

Took me half an hour to dig all the snow from under the rear, and around Flint.

This was him the other day.



Not seen in the photo above are two more days of heavy snow, plus extra snow that the snowplough had left behind Flint.

Here is the hole I had to dig him out of. Note the mound of snow in the background from the hole, this is where I dumped the excess snow..



This is the very first time I've got stuck in my Syncro, and has now made me raise the priority of jobs to do with rear diff lock being number one.

[Mickyfin]

Well all the snow has pretty much gone now, and the weather is warming up nicely, so today I refitted my summer tyres/alloys. I was quite surprised how much air each tyre had lost whilst being in our stock room for 4+ months. Each tyre needed 20psi to get each to the rating. 36 fronts, 40 rears.

As said, now the weather is warming up, I will be posting updates for reference etc as I start to tackle Flint's seam rash. Also a couple of windows need to be took out to sort out some corrosion on the lower areas.

Would you believe, I still have yet to find a garage here with a bloody jetwash. I have found a carwash which has an height limit of 2.65m, so Flint will fit in there as he's 1.99m tall.

I really want to get all the crap from under the arches, so looks like I need to invest in a jetwash system of my own. Any recommendations? I hear Kharcher is a good one to go with?

[Macflai]

Hey Micky!

Thanks for posting here! I haven't owned a petrol VW Syncro van before, mine is mTDi, and never driven in these conditions where you live... I am learning a lot with your pics and explanations!

I have heard Karcher is a good pressure washer machine, but there are more brands... Bosch, Nilfisk... depends on your wallet and if you're going to use it frequently... Only be worried about storage and the water you use there, here where I live, the water comes from the sea, is treated and then we can use it, but, I don't know how to explain it, our water is "heavy" (we call it that way) and has some lime, it can ruin your pressure washer machine in a few months...

[Mickyfin]

Thanks, interesting that about your water there.

[Macflai]

Thanks, interesting that about your water there.

It seems I am not helping... sorry...

I can send you some links about pressure washer machines...

http://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/ ... e-washers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRQ3QilQtJA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[syncropaddy]

Most of these pressure washers are the same, get what you can afford. Biggest selling point for me is if you can get it fixed quickly locally or not! I used to have a Karcher but it kept breaking down so I bought one from Aldi and its great.

[Macflai]

Most of these pressure washers are the same, get what you can afford. Biggest selling point for me is if you can get it fixed quickly locally or not! I used to have a Karcher but it kept breaking down so I bought one from Aldi and its great.

A friend had a Karcher and also broke doing weird things... I went to Alcampo (spanish version of french "Auchan") and bought a Contra pressure washer and was working for 4 years almost every weekend for different purposes... it's value was 45€, was worth it.

[Mickyfin]

Cheers guys, I will check out the range of jetwashers in our local Biltema store, which has several models.