Help I think we have had enough

[TakeLifeEasy]

We have only had our nearly renovated campervan 3 months and every time we have to used it, there has been a problem. To be fair, 2 of the problems have been down to overfilling of oil by a mechanic and another time he did not replace the rocker cover so we lost nearly all the oil out of the engine. I have just been out to the van to give it a bit of a run to check the mechanic has replaced the gasket properly, turned the key and just hear click, click. Turning the key the second time, not even lights on the dashboard. We had the same problem a few weeks ago and it was down to the connector on the battery which is now on nice and secure. All in all, we have now lost all confidence with the van as we are no experts on cars....maybe we have been nieve buying one. We are meant to be going on holiday in a couple of weeks but unless I can get a mechanic to look at this in time, looks like we may have to cancel that. I would like just one week in it before we go away just to start building up some confidence that we will not get stuck on holiday.

I know this is really cheeky, but is there anyone in the Cotswolds area who would be prepared to come over and take a look at the van. Not just the current problem but to have a quick look round and see if there is any obvious issues that may arise and need to be addressed. We are more than happy to pay for their time.

Apologies for the cry of help but we are at the end of our tether as with all the issues, we have lost confidence in our dream.

If not, anyone looking for a completely renovated 1971 white westy?

P.S. Just put the battery on charge and it was showing 2 on the charger so does need a bit of a charge there is plenty of live in the battery.

 

[mjknight71]

niggly little problems are part and parcel of an old car.....everyone i have had has been the same (I've had 9 pre 72 vehicles to date/ 4 post 72) however well they are maintained.........

When buying an old car the first thing you must do is join a break down company!

Anyway Vaselene may well be your answer

Check both battery terminals clean and apply above
Check earth strap to battery tray make sure good contact and apply above
find the starter motor somewhere on the rhs of the gearbox/ lay infront of rhs rear wheel under bus and look inboard and backish...find thick electical lead ensure clean good contact and apply above


:mrgreen:

 

[Bwuttonmoon]

Once the small problems are sorted it will be much more enjoyable, especially now spring has sprung.

Oh and I think you need a new mechanic!

 

[slammedresto]

are you a member of any local clubs, as that makes life a lot easier, a night at the pub quickly sorts out the problems with a few knowledgeable club members

 

[mattd1984]

The click click will be a flat battery. Make sure you disconnect the battery everytime you are not using it. Unless your using it daily. I do this all the time as the battery seems to drain for some reason.

Chin up buddy it'll all come good in the end, If i was closer i would come over and have a look

 

[ib-bus]

Do not push the eject button just yet , I am not a mechanic but I can pick up a book and have it walk me to the process of checking things , when this fails I go to my mechanic. It sounds like you have to find yourself a new mechanic , no big deal , it takes a while to find a good one.
Once everything is sorted is time to enjoy your camper , oh and like someone mentioned , get AA coverage just in case

 

[mister]

when I bought my first bus, I had problem after problem, had the AA out 3 times in the first month, busted points, snapped accelerator cable, generator went ka-put, there was loads of little teething problems. but I learned each time what had gone wrong and how to resolve it. after a year of lots of mini dramas, things got better, my confidence grew in it and in the five years I owned it I drove it all over the UK and France(with no break down cover :shock: ) and loved every minute of it. I do remember the original gloomy feeling in the first month when it was problem after problem, but we both got there in the end. That was in the nineties, with no forums for help.

going through the same thing now with my new bus, I know though after we have some miles together under the belt it will all be OK

Stick with it!

 

[creationblue]

I had the same feeling with my 1st camper, i knew nothing about air cooled buses, and was really pushed in at the deep end! But you learn as you go on and it does get better trust me! You meet some good friends along the way to boot.

When i got my current bus i started to change all the wearable parts for new as i went along however good they looked as i figured these are the inexpensive parts that will fail and spoil the enjoyment, esp with a wife and 3 kids in tow :lol:

Good luck im sure you will look back and smile.

Just

 

[john the horse]

yea matey i can totally agree with all above.

we were out of the scene for ten years and got enough dollar to get our bus, three breakdowns and wiring problems , we thought wtf did we do but its 95% there now and we are lovin it again,

next job rollin road and leisure battery wiring problem to sort then we are fault free, till the next one.

dont loose heart , stick in there you will love it in the end

cheers

john and bex
:shock:

 

[Graham L]

Happy to come out and have a look on Sunday or I can get over next Thursday if either of those are any good to you, where exactly in the cotswolds are you?

 

[ozziedog]

Same as everyone else has said. Me and my bus have got a few issues at the moment, mainly with brakes and a bit of jagged edges on the bodywork here and there, the mot guy failed me on 22 things alltogether :shock: :shock: :shock: but nothing serious really. I`ve just come in from the garage all dejected because it wasn`t going too well and when I read your post my heart went out to you :? (said in a very deep and manly voice). If you don`t know a lot about mechanicking it might be a good time to start on the basics, the same as a lot of peeps on here, mainly so you can suss a good one out. Please don`t sell up or give up when it sounds like you are 95% there, good luck with it

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, :mrgreen:

 

[bluenose]

think you need to be prepared to learn a bit and get your hands dirty. Carry a few select spares to get you out the **** on the road side. Get a multi meter and wiring diagram for your bus and you should be able to sort any wiring issues out piss easy.

Also sack your mechanic he sounds pants, personally i think you should go for it yourself then you'll save money and learn how it works.

 

[gninnam]

Like above - old cars (and vans) need loving (a lot)

Sounds like a flat battery for sure which does happen easily on these due to the way the wiring is done compared to a modern car.

I hope someone can visit your van and give it the once over as it would be a shame to part company

 

[Pete B]

Please don't bail out early, it can take a while to sort niggles but is soooo worth it in the end!!!
I fully understand how venerable one can feel without having a fair bit of mechanical knowledge, particularly when having to pay out for someone to do all the work. It's not feasable for me to come and have a look, wish it was, but there must be someone on here more local to you who could do so? Sounds like the mechanic previously used may not be quite on the ball, post a more accurate location and I'm sure a recomendation will be forthcoming before too long.
Find someone 'good' and try to learn some of the basics if possible, setting points gap, static timing, basic carb tuning etc.

A mate has just bought a rhd aussie split, has not run for more years than can be imagined and has what I think is a 'blast over and hide it' paintjob. And he's paid more than top dollar. He has no mechanical aptitude or knowledge whatsoever (wouldn't know a set of points if you put them on a plate let alone what they were for....) but wants me to have a look and tell/show him what to do. (may need welding?) He does realise that chosing soft furnishings at this point is a little premature but does not seem to have accepted that with paying £35 an hour ish is probably going to cost him a couple of grand in labour and parts just to get it to be a 'driver'.

Stating the obvious, but once sorted, these things still need regular thorough maintainance, it's not like the modern 20k service madness!
3K intervals for a proper FULL service (old school service...) will do no harm.

Stick with it if you can, it really is worth it.

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Guys what can I say apart from many thanks for all the support. I have the battery on charge and will try to start the van in an hour or so. I have been trying to learn some of the basics and have just brought a load of parts and a manual for the car ( see post http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30683" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false. I am determined to perform the routine maintenance myself and changing the mechanic. Joined Green Flag the day we brought and called them out once already as he was the guy who found the bad connection on the battery! Lets hope that the battery just need a bit of a boast. It seems a roller caster ride at the moment. Feelings of excitement that we are going out in it and then something happens which knocks your confidence.

Graham, I have PM'd you the details of my home address to see if it is feasible for you to visit us and have a good look over the van. We would really appreciate it. If Graham cannot make it, I will post again as I would really appreciate someone with a bit of knowledge on these vans to take a look over the van so we can get our confidence back up again.

Again, thanks very much for everyone's support, it really gives you a bit of a lift.

 

[gninnam]

Fingers crossed and I hope you enjoy 'tinkering'

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Bad news, just finished charging the battery, tried starting the engine and nothing, no clicking just lights on the dash. Checked the wires I can see and all look OK.

Fingers crossed we are not too far away from Graham and he can make it over to us on Sunday.

 

[Rich-B]

Sounds like you need to check the main wire to the starter motor from the battery or just give the starter motor a knock with the hammer as it may be sticking,

I know your feeling but as everyone has said it's just teething problems and once you start to learn your way around the bus you will be able to sort most of the issues yourself,
I broke down on the way back from my MOT the other week! Then broke down twice in a 30 mile journey! But it's been off the road since 1992 and had everything replaced running gear wise, it's just one of those things and hopefully mine is nearly over it now, once you start to get some mileage in and things like brakes settle in and you sort the leaky engine out you will love going out in your bus

 

[ozziedog]

Hey,, good stuff. With the battery, might be an idea to leave it on charge overnight if it`s flat, just so that it gets plenty of re charge, and when you have finished tinkering, leave it on charge for a couple of hours or more, especially if you have been starting it and stopping it. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to do something because of a flat battery. Another good habit, as said before, is to take the earth lead off if it`s not gonna be used for a few days, then the battery can`t discharge as quickly. 8)
Really really really glad about your change of mind, so I`m about to get out there in the garage and `man up` to my brake issues, and get ready to shove his advisorys and stuff where the sun don`t shine (no offence mr mot man) :lol:

Ozziedog,,,, fail my bus,,, hhhmppphhhhh,,,, I just reckon he`s jealous, :lol:

 

[Baldrick]

Hi TakeLifeEasy

I'd say the same as the others...stick with it.

We've has our bus for about 18 months and there have been so many frustrations down the way. I got a new engine (from a reputable supplier) over a year ago and it failed when we went on holiday last year. It's never really run properly and hopefully it is being sorted today.

I bought a fridge and it was damaged in transit, I got someone to fit seatbelts and propex heater and they damaged my paintwork, I had someone else fit a split chaarge and they didn't connect all the wires!!! The door locks were shot and I had to change them, I had starting problems in the warm and there is surface rust appearing in places and I could go on but won't.

It's nothing that can't be sorted as the bus is bacally sound, but it does build up a level of frustration and that nigglng question what next.

However, getting out in the bus and meeting the guys of this site and others makes it all worth while. I know there are scumbags where ever you go, but it never ceases to amaze me just how nice, friendly and helpful VW types are...well at least those from EarlyBay.

If Graham can get to over to you then you'll be in good hands. Got to know him a bit at VolksWorld and he's a nice guy (no...honestly he is!!!)

Let us know how it goes.