New van issues

[sportsterrider]

Hello folks. having posted in the general chat i thought i would ask a few questions seeing assomeone will know the answers.I have put pics on the general chat under new to t25 post so have alook at the van there. Anyway having had the van a couple of days i have some issues that i need help with.
First is the coolaant warning light flashing after about 20 miles or so. It did this wheile i was out so i stopped and checked to see if the lead was loose ,didnt seem to be but maybe its a bad connection.Whilst in there i checked the coolant level in the header tank and when i released the cap a bit of fluid came out but not much and it was brimmed so i retightened it and checked the expansion tank.The fluid in that was cold ..is this right?I have ordered the new sensor (7 quid why wouldnt you) so is it just a case of screw off screw back on?
Next is the gear change which is a joyous hit aand miss affair but it could be just me not used to this.Getting in to first from second is errr oh no ...type thing .Any tips.
The brake pedal fluctuates under braking but the brakes work fine..Ideas please.
And finally for now at least the engine smokes like a tractor under load although it settles down once you back the trottle off and its balck smoke.Now the previous owner siad they adjusted the pump to give it more uumpf so does it need backing off a bit.Its a 1.9 turbo aaz thats done about 100 thou so not new by any means.All advice gratefully recieved.
I am thinking i might go down the electric power steeering route too anyone got this mod?is it any good as again the previous owner said these electric corsa etc ones aint strong enoughfor the weight but surely thats not the case. Anything that will make this van easier to drive will be done in time if we keep it.Cheers.

[Ian Hulley]

Please don't take this the wrong way but it sounds like you've bought the wrong van

T25s with the standard steering wheel, standard size wheels and tyres (at the correct pressures) are not that heavy to drive. After driving the ABS/PAS Passat to/from work I find The Bus a total pleasure to drive.

The issues with the electrics could just be a faulty PCB or may be a conglomaration of a badly bodged in AAZ unit combined with the original wiring ... no-one can tell without seeing it and working it through. As for the P.O. tweeking it you need to get the engine/pump set-up back to standard to know where you're starting from.

Ian.

[sportsterrider]

Why do you say that we have bought the wrong van? It doesnt have the standard steering wheel its a smaller one as you cant see the speedo clearly so that wont help and the wheels and tyres are big ones.have look ..see what you think.i aint saying its a pain to drive it isnt really but its all new to us and its not what i am used to and the same with gear change really.
Take your point about the fuel thing though and the electrical thing but its answers is need that will help me sort out the issues which is why i ask the questions. If we dont get on with the van we will just sell it its no big drama and we did expect that being an oldie it would be hands on so nothing should be too major a problem should it? Wrong van well i will let you know in a few weeks...

[Ian Hulley]

Why do you say that we have bought the wrong van?

Surely you test drove it ? It can't have got heavier since ....

Most of the electrical issues are a probably from a half-"cock" conversion, standard vans in their mid to late 20s all have their issues but add into the equation an unkown conversion and this escalate. As someone said the other day an AAZ is only just more powerful than a standard JX in good trim so the previous owner has gone in search of more power and screwed with the pump settings.

Pulsing brake pedal can be caused by oval drums, bent discs or vacuum creation issues .... I don't 'do' diesel so don't know about the AAZ's means of generating the vacuum the servo relies on.

Ian

[sportsterrider]

Again why the wrong van comment.How do you know until you have had something for awhile.Most of the stuff i can fix myself but i asked the questions to save me hunting around .

[Ian Hulley]

You bought it and straight away are asking about fitting PAS ?? There are examples on here of peeps fitting electric PAS systems ... personally I don't think it needs it but hey, horses for corsas

Anyway, enough. You are now in the right place for the good people here to be able to guide you round your van

Cheers, Ian.

[sportsterrider]

Yeah its just i seen the comments on pas and i thought hmm that might be good but if we dont get it i wont be too fussed i mean its more about improving than anything else.Dont forget i only got this thing two days ago and i know nothing about them so when i found this forum i though great a place to find things out. maybe we should have bought someting newer you may well be right but this van is bloody cool i reckon,which at may age isnt a thing you say much,and i do have a damaged right arm from being eelectrocuted(yep ouch big time) so it might help getting that done instead of selling on if it dont get on with the steering.Once its moving its easy enough i am just thinking about parking it with those big wheels and tyres.I might get the standard steering wheel and put that back on first and just live with it.
I fully expect to find a few other things that i will need to get familiar with as the time rolls on with the van but it does seem on here if one deosnt know someone else will.
My other trouble is i cant leave stuff alone..same with my bikes although with this i am going to have to learn not broke dont touch...dont ..then ask those who do.
That coolant light issue does seem to be a common thing with what i read on here so i suppose i am really asking is is it safe to drive on if its flashing and the needle is where it should be.
Brakes ..well investigation is needed i suppose same as the smoke issue..non of which worrys me unduly its just nice to know whats what with something new.Cheers ian....

[keith]

many people fit electric power steering...i have heard two comments.

1...its the best thing ever
2...you lose quite a bit of feedback and the thing feels very wooly

I think it depends which kit you buy / fit....( this guy has great reports...well worth speaking to him...(nice bloke too)..Tim Shettle
http://www.ultimate-engineering.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

i have thought about it on mine....then i fitted the right commercial tyres and pumped them up ( as Ian said)...it makes a huge difference...BUT parking in tight spots is still a bit of a wrestle.

so my jury is still out....I really need to drive one myself to be sure.

as for the flashing light....mine did it when my van had a JX...and when I had it converted to TDi.
I replaced the sender....and it stopped for a day. Cleaned the contacts....stopped for a day.

I then spoke with Mocki (and Ian) who advised me to put my arm under the dash ...up behind the wheel and feel for a connector block .....i did...gave it a wiggle and push together best I could ....and its never flashed again.

Worth trying...clean, wiggle, replace sender, wiggle.....

i like the look of your van ..

[sportsterrider]

Hello Kieth. yeah horses for corsas as ian said (see what he did there) but i suppose thats for the future is indeed the van is .I have big wheels and tyres on it and a small steering wheel so that wont help and of course no recent experience of non power steering so once i am used to it i will think again .
I will give that wiggle a go tomorrow and i have as i mentioned ordered that sensor but please tell me its just a quick simple on off job with non of that bleedin bleeding palaver to do. All in all what about the coolant itself does that sound right as i described how it was when i checked and with the needle being in more or less the center is it ok to drive on with that light flashing? yeah the van looks great i think and with it just having had a respray by all accounts it should.Its got fancy blue tooth thing ,reversing camera and all sorts of stuff like fancy led light strip inside on the roof...big speakers and all that and if i tell you the previous powner was only 22 you can see why it has all that.Thanks

[slowcoach]

What about trying a stock steering wheel? Its a cheap one to try, and might be your fix.

They're nice and big like a bus, so you get plenty of leverage.

Good luck, and enjoy it!

[sportsterrider]

Hello mate.yeah just looking at one on eee,how much,bay...probably better than that little thing thats on it now.Cheers.

[kevtherev]

What about trying a stock steering wheel? Its a cheap one to try, and might be your fix.

They're nice and big like a bus, so you get plenty of leverage.

Good luck, and enjoy it!

..and the Borbet wheels, are they the correct off set or ET?
I see it's been lowered, if the castor and camber hasn't been adjusted back to spec then the steering will be like an oil tanker

jus my ten pence

[keith]

Level sensor is...unplug the cable connector.....unscrew the sender...carefully....that's it.

Replace with new and cross your fingers.


There are two types of senders used on the diesels.....fingers crossed you ordered the right one.

[sportsterrider]

Hello folks .Kev i dont know about the offset or what et is and i have no idea about the castor and camber.How do i check that.I am assuming the previous owner who is a mechanic i think did all this and did it right.It isnt that it reaally heavy on the steering as in i have to force the thing arounds bends but i have nothing to compare it to either being new to it all. I love the look of the wheels so i hope they are on right as we dont want to alter the look at all unless we really have to.
I am going to source and put the stock steering wheel on as suggested and live with it for now.
yeah the sender is ordered but i will compare it with the one fitted first before i attempt to change it .I will do that wiggle thing under the dash too so thanks for the tips...cheers fellas

[kevtherev]

i dont know about the offset or what et is and i have no idea about the castor and camber.How do i check that.

The ET information is stamped on the wheel.
Castor and camber can be checked at any garage

I am assuming the previous owner who is a mechanic i think did all this and did it right

Assuming and thinking is no good in this case. your steering components will wear out in short order if there is too much stress on them.

.

I love the look of the wheels so i hope they are on right as we dont want to alter the look at all unless we really have to.

Borbets are not the only alloys you can fit and fit safely, Audi, Benz, cosworth... to name a few.

This van has clearly been altered to achieve a look... which is a trade off.
It has not been altered for a comfortable ride, and to drive long distances when going camping in my opinion.