new owner

Post by **marc123** » 10 May 2008, 17:03

i'd just like to say hello to all as i have finally got my first t25 a lovely california westfalia so no doubt i will be bending your ears in the future for advice a big thank you in advance

Post by **DoKa90** » 10 May 2008, 17:08

hello and welcome. I'm new around here too but already it feels strangely familiar...

take it easy

Post by **StewnJo** » 12 May 2008, 08:04

Hi and a great big welcome, you won't find a better group of folks.
Stew & Joan

Post by **irishkeet** » 12 May 2008, 08:22

greetings

Post by **foxbase** » 13 May 2008, 00:01

Hey there,

I collected my Westy tonight and I can't stop looking at it on my drive!!! A baptism of fire driving it home on the motorway with a 'gusting' wind trying to knock me out of my concentration.

I'm a bit daunted by it all as its my first ever camper, a lefty to boot but I'm sure this is the place for any advice right?

-- Foxbase!

Post by **Red Westie** » 13 May 2008, 21:55

I'm sure you'll be asking loads of questions once you have had a chance to explore your van.
Common Q's would be.. how do I top up the oil and coolant
Fill up the gas tank
How does the Ebber work
...................Fridge......
What do the lights do on the panel
Leisure battery charging
Rewiring the radio to the leisure battery
Black box under seat
5 speed gears and hitting the radio
Captains swivel chairs
Big mirrors
Canvas and netting issues with poptop
etc etc
Martin

Post by **foxbase** » 13 May 2008, 22:53

Red Westie wrote: etc etc
Martin

Well, now that you mention it

I got a load of original documentation with it including the Westy Joker User Manual in English! and the chap I got it from was fantastic too but it's still all a bit of a blur.

I think the main things I'm struggling with are using the fridge before setting off, on the move and once at a hook up! I think I get it but could do with some real-world advice not just user manual speak. When hooked up does the battery recharge? Do you guys generally use the fridge only when camped or during the journey too? Obviously no lpg during journey so battery yeah? I've read about getting it cold first before leaving? Run the fridge on hook up at home before leaving?

Yes, the lpg gas fill up proceedure is bothering me a bit. Where to get it from would be a good starter... or should I just reccy the local BP or Shell? Does the tank know when its full? Does the lpg pump thingy auto cut-off? I've got the adaptor for the tank so know about that.

Oh and the Haynes manual emphasizes the importance of coolant which daunts me a little. I've got it (wife hasn't named him/her yet) booked in for a once over at a VW specialist - should I get them to check this as well as the usual vitals? I wouldn't know where to start with checking coolant mixture.

Finally (for now) I've read about override switches for the radiator fan. Years ago I had cars that got really hot in hot weather forcing me to have the blowers on hot on the hottest days of the year. Is this a real issue with all of these campers or is it a case of using it and seeing what my one is like under duress and in hot conditions?

erm... there's more.. but its late

and I need to lie down as its been a mad few days.

cheers

-- f o x b a s e

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 14 May 2008, 04:54

foxbase wrote: I think the main things I'm struggling with are using the fridge before . . . When hooked up does the battery recharge? Do you guys generally use the fridge only when camped or during the journey too? Obviously no lpg during journey so battery yeah? I've read about getting it cold first before leaving. Run the fridge on hook up at home before leaving?

Yes, the lpg gas fill up proceedure is bothering me a bit. Where to get it from would be a good starter...

Oh and the Haynes manual emphasizes the importance of coolant which daunts me a little. I've got it (wife hasn't named him/her yet) booked in for a once over at a VW specialist - should I get them to check this as well as the usual vitals? I wouldn't know where to start with checking coolant mixture.

Finally (for now) I've read about override switches for the radiator fan. Years ago I had cars that got really hot in hot weather forcing me to have the blowers on hot on the hottest days of the year. Is this a real issue with all of these campers or is it a case of using it and seeing what my one is like under duress and in hot conditions?

Hello and welcome!

Fridge: if we're going on a long journey we put it onto the battery setting (once the engine is running) which means that it's being powered by the alternator. As soon as you turn the engine off, take the fridge off the battery setting to prevent your engine battery being drained. We don't have a Westie so I don't know whether or not they have a built-in battery charger for engine and/or leisure battery. If you can cool the fridge in advance of a long journey that's a good idea, but we tend not to bother, just put lots of cold beer in there and that soon chills the temp. so that it acts like a cool box until you're on the move.

Lpg: there are websites such as this one (and others) that will tell you which garages in your area sell lpg:

http://www.go-autogas.com/

You said that you've got the adaptor, so you should be ok there.

Coolant: yes, if you're getting someone to give the van a once-over for you, I'd be asking them to check the coolant mix. Alternatively p.1.14 of Haynes manual shows you how to do it and it isn't difficult, just make sure that you do it when the engine is cold and check it at the header tank rather than the top-up tank.

Radiator switch / over-heating: it shouldn't be overheating just because it's an old van! If it is, get it fixed. Keep an eye on your warning lights whilst driving and stop if they come on, not everybody does! Have you got breakdown cover (roadside assistance, recovery home, home start, full package etc)?

Good luck and happy adventuring!

Tony

P.S. I don't want to alarm you but there were a few vans stolen in the Manchester area last year (and in other areas of the country as well) so I'd have a think about what security measures you've got in place.

Post by **foxbase** » 14 May 2008, 10:52

Hi Tony!

Thanks for the welcome and advice - it's much appreciated.

The fridge stuff makes a little more sense now however I think I have two batteries with a charger under the r'n'r bed - will be glad to hear if I've misinterpreted that from the user guide

So I'm a little unsure what recharges the leisure battery or when this occurs?

As for the lpg - looks like I'll just have to have a run out and find a local garage and check out the pump and sort of work out what I'm doing!

Sound advice about the coolant - is there anything specifically you'd ask the garage to check over? It's had a recent oil/filter change and the oil is honey coloured having only run about 700 miles since the change. Apart from the coolant, brakes etc. As you can probably gather - checking the oil, water etc is my limit - but I'd like to get more involved with this camper.

As for the radiator - I've nothing to go off so far but the previous owner did say it runs fine and the temp guage just sits at the 1/2 way mark going up hills etc etc so I'll have to take his word on that until I have driven it more. I just read about hills, overheating and manual overrides and thought I'd ask about that. Like you say - there is no reason for it to overheat just because its old!

Thanks for the advice about getting it secured because of thefts. Is there anything you'd recommend for this apart from steering locks etc. I used to take the coil plug out on older cars if I was leaving it for any length of time. I know nothing about professionally fitted imobilizers or alarms.

Thanks once again for your advice and the good luck message! I hope to get about in him over the forthcoming bank holiday

-- f o x b a s e

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 15 May 2008, 20:33

foxbase wrote: . . . I think I have two batteries with a charger under the r'n'r bed - will be glad to hear if I've misinterpreted that from the user guide So I'm a little unsure what recharges the leisure battery or when this occurs?

. . . is there anything specifically you'd ask the garage to check over? It's had a recent oil/filter change and the oil is honey coloured having only run about 700 miles since the change . . .

Thanks for the advice about getting it secured because of thefts. Is there anything you'd recommend for this apart from steering locks etc.

I think the charger that you mention will be for charging the leisure battery when you are on elec hook-up. Hopefully another Westy owner will shed some light on this for you.

Did you get much service history with your van? Its had a recent oil change but do you know if it has had a full service recently? If not, I'd be asking the garage to do one . . . or get to grips with your Haynes manual and the Wiki and the search facility on here.

We tend not to discuss the details of how our vans are secured on this open forum (anyone could register to read the posts, including thieves). However if you're looking for ideas and info, post a request in the members only section of the forum and ask people to send you a private message (pm) with suggestions.

If you can't see the members only section of the forum, you'll need to look here first:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12961

Tony

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 15 May 2008, 20:37

Some more info here that you might find useful if you haven't already seen it:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32623

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ma ... ive_Owners

Tony

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 15 May 2008, 20:44

Just realised that my previous replies weren't to the person who started the thread, so hello and welcome to marc123 as well!

Come on then you two . . . is it time for us to see some pics of your pride and joy yet?!

Tony

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 15 May 2008, 21:08

Windscreen washer bottle's under the nearside front cab mat

Took me ages to find it

Cunning Germans

Ian.

Post by **kevtherev** » 15 May 2008, 22:13

do NOT ever, never, ever press the red button that says DO NOT PRESS.

OK?

Post by **foxbase** » 15 May 2008, 22:32

Hi Tony, Ian

Thanks for the replies and sorry for hi-jacking your thread marc123

Yeah thinking about it I think the charger is for the Leisure battery as you say. I got a pretty decent service history with it, VAG to the mid-nineties and then scheduled servicing from UK reg in 2003. I think you're right though - it won't hurt to give it a service whilst its in the garage.

I take your points regarding security - I never thought about the implications of discussing stuff here doh!

As for pictures I have some detail shots for your viewing/wisdom!

I had another peak about the van tonight and had a look under the mats and carpeting in the foot-wells. When I inspected the van (before buying) I noted some dampness and some rust but figured it was not all that bad considering. The previous owner was honest and declared he'd had some problems with the notorious windscreen seal rust and water leaking into the foot-wells. He had this repaired and it looks like a decent enough job.

So I pealed everything back tonight to have a proper look and discovered some dampness. I can see no traces of water getting into this area which leads me to think that water has collected there in the past and is trapped by that thick underlay stuff. In fact this thick, cork-like material seems to be damp to the touch even though we haven't had rain since last Sunday and the carpet on top feels dry.

[img:800:600]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a208/ ... 32_new.jpg[/img]

Any advice for what to do about this cracking which I'm assuming will deteriorate especially if I don't eradicate this dampness:

[img:800:600]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a208/ ... G_4734.jpg[/img]

The passenger side seems less corroded but has some surface spots developing again caused in part from this dampness to the underlay:

[img:800:600]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a208/ ... G_4737.jpg[/img]

E D I T

Okay after talking to a mate at work it appears the underlay I've been going on about is actually sound insulation. It's pretty rotten in my camper and I wondered about replacing it? Do they still produce this for the T25. I've looked on JustKampers but nothing there. Failing that, what are my options for halting the further spread of the rust that has occurred in the foot wells?

As you can gather Ian - I found that washer bottle tonight before I caught up here - honest !!!

Cheers for any help guys!

Jason -- f o x b a s e