Help I think we have had enough

[cotswoldiver]

The great thing about this forum is that you can ask any question and before long someone comes along with an answer - lots of us had teething problems, I certainly did with the first bus I bought which was from a 'trusted dealer' - but bit by bit I learnt a bit more, and even when we broke down in France last year I was pleased that I knew what the problem was - and the fact that we broke down didn't seem to matter so much. I can say that now, but at the time :evil:

Don't bail out just yet, the comments already posted are from some very genuine folk with some good helpful advice. if Graham can help you he will - and you will then have a good local commercial enterprise that can help you in the future. Get the manual, work your way through some of the back catalogue of threads already on here

It will come good, and then the joy of driving something 30+ years old will mean you can't get the smile off your face

We know, we've been there broken down, got back up and done it all again :lol:

 

[uber cool]

As most are saying on hear look at it as a learning curve dont give up. In todays world of rules and regulations and cars that all look the same it's so rewarding to drive an old VW. I may have more knowledge on cars than some but I'm learning too. Take the porsche engine i'm building that's a whole new world, and I'm having some major ups and downs with that. Last night a major downer as I might have to strip and rebuild the engine again (dont ask). So since I was a little pee'd off went for a run in the camper, only went about 2 miles to pick one of my girls up from a school disco and get some petrol normally a 10 min trip. took me about 30 mins, as everytime I stopped folks came up asking my about the van and saying how good it looked. Driving along folk smiling and waving at us. I parked outside the school outside a house where the bloke is a little grumpy with folk parking across his drive and nipping into school (I can understand why)Anyway, he came out thought he was going to complain at first, but instead he just gave me the thumbs up. Last year driving along the motorway going to Le=mans classic a brand new Aston Martin cruised past slowed down and the passenger and driver gave us the thumbs up, now that just makes you smile so hard your face hurts.

I know my rambings won't help you sort your problems and if I was closer I would come and help. But what I can say is that when they are running well (and that is possible we have done over 10k miles with only one breakdown) the buzz it gives me is absolutley brilliant and pure escapisim from today busy and fast passed life.

Hope it all comes good soon for you and remember it's all part of learning, just a little frustrating at the time when you want it to work.

 

[phillywilly]

It's difficult as we all feel it's a pain in the ass sometimes, especially when you've just got the bus. I got my westy in October from alex at Transporterhaus, he'd been right through the brakes, wiring, strip down, painted it and put it back together. Looks like it just left the factory. Now the work starts for me. At the end of the day, this bus has probably stood for 5-7 years. In that time problems creep in that alex wouldn't have known about because he didn't drive it much. The box is whining, brakes have bedded in and need readjusting, roof hinges were stiff and have now bent/broken, one of the rear quarter light windows won't close because the new seals are just too tight mirrors are loose because some aftermarket bits are just crap etc..........

The one thing that makes it easier is I expected this stuff because been through it before. Another thing is there is nothing like the feeling of being away and driving it.

One thing that might help is get the battery checked as it may not be holding a charge. If it is and it's losing charge, I always put a kill switch on the earth strap, so that when I'm not using it, I take the key out and the battery is disconnected. Also useful if you have an electrical fault you can kill all power quickly and a basic but sometimes useful immobiliser (of sorts). I had the same problem as you on another bus and it was the life feed was rusted on the starter motor so was not getting a good connection.

Good luck and don't give up!

 

[67westy]

Another vote for stick with it from me

We've had the van about a year now and although I knew how to do some basic things to start with I know SO much more now and feel more confident going out. Not had many major problems really and as long as I've got the toolkit with me I'm reasonably confident of fixing most problems at the roadside.

The only major breakdown we had so far was on the M4. Called the AA got same chairs and crisps out the van and sat next to the hard shoulder with people waving at us was actually quite enjoyable for a breakdown!

Stick with it the more problems you have the quicker you learn and the more confident you become in the van as the niggles have been removed and you have more experience.

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Just got some great news, Graham has kindly offered to come over to tommorrow at 10:30 to take a look. You really do not know what it means to me to have someone who knows what the hell they are doing to take a look. What with that news and all the amazing stories you guys have wrote, it is keeping us in there so many thanks for the kind words....some of the problems some people have mentioned above make ours look pathetic :shock:

Hearing Graham coming over tomorrow has given us a real lift. Also, just got back and the Camper & Bus magazine dropped through the post and our camper van is featured on page 38 in the Cherished Vehicle Insurance page

Many thanks everyone, I will post an update once Graham has taken a look tomorrow.

 

[gninnam]

Your in safe hands

 

[sparkywig]

It is worth it in the end....






















































....I think.

 

[Buss69]

Stick with it!

Absolutely with nearly every response on here. I'm on my second bus of 19 years of ownership. My first bus was a rust trap (a'72 crossover), I fixed all the rust that needed doing on a very small budget. This meant that if I wanted to own a bus I was gonna have to learn, and I have done.
As with everyone I've lost count of all the breakdowns we have had, but i've learnt a little by little and now understand most things at least enough to get us home. Don't forget if you've a cooker at least you can make a brew while waiting for the breakdown people. Good luck, persevere, and don't give up!

 

[cyberdyne systems]

It takes a while to get to know your bus, its strength's and weaknesses, and it takes time to slowly go round it sorting things out how you would do them. But in time you will be able to build up confidence and enjoy it.

I had a battery issue the other night, one thing my van has been good at is starting, but on thursday night I'd been out in it came back after a few hours only to find the syptoms of a flat battery, clicking and then dash lights going off when i turned the key. I was a little surprised but knew that as all the electrical power was failing it was most likely bad connections to the battery, so after a push start to get home, the next day I was out there cleaning up the terminals and clamps, and now its great again.

That was a relatively easy issue to deal with and again some maintenance could have prevented it. So be prepared to keep on top of things and you should have a better time of it, oh and do plently of research!

Good luck, hope you get a clean bill of health and can enjoy your holiday

 

[simo]

Just saw your bus in the mag :mrgreen: looks well nice :mrgreen:
Stick with it m8 8)

 

[KateLovesPurple]

All good advice given so far, all I can do is consolidate what has been said.

1. Stick with it, don't sell it now, you WILL regret it.
2. Sack your current mechanic.
3. Get a Haynes or Bentley manual and learn.
4. Ask questions on here if you are unsure, there is a wealth of knowledge on here.
5. Enjoy the life!

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Well what can we say, Graham from Midland Early Bay arrived bang on time and after looking at the electrics traced the problem to a bad connection to the starter motor. Once he sorted that out our van burst into live staring better than it has ever done before. He then moved onto the major oil leak around the rocker cover and we have gone from the engine peeing out oil everywhere to a very small leak. He would have fixed that totally had he had all the bits but he has pointed me in the right direction and I am going to sort that out myself next weekend. All in all, Graham was kind enough to spend well over 3 hours with us and we learnt more in those 3 hours than in all the time since owning the van! What was really good for us was that he was showing us what he was doing and explaining things in a real easy to understand way. We cannot thank Graham enough for coming to the rescue just when we needed it. We know it is going to take a while for our confidence to grow and to it a steep learning curve for us at the moment, but we feel a whole lot better than we did Friday night when we originally made this post.

When we get back from our holiday, the van is going into Midland Early Bay to have a couple of bits sorted out which Graham found while working the bus. Nothing that will stop the holiday so as long as nothing else happens, we set off to Devon in a couple of weeks in our first campervan holiday. So if you see a white westy along the M5 peeing out oil, you know I did not do my bit very well :shock:

Many thanks for everyone's comments above, it really has been brill and given us a much needed boost. Most of all, many thanks to Graham for coming down to us at such short notice and getting us back on the road.

 

[gninnam]

A great conclusion to your situation with Graham spending time and helping to show you where the issues are and how to sort it - top bloke

Hope you enjoy your holiday and the mishaps you do have are not major ones

 

[Pete B]

8)

 

[uber cool]

Great news, Nice one Graham :mrgreen: You'll need to start a fan club soon :mrgreen:

 

[lard]

I love a happy ending

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Just thought I would give everyone who kindly replied to our plea for help an update. I took the van out for a spin a few times this week but was getting oil smoke in the cab http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=30909" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It was not coming from the rocker cover as Graham from Midland Early Bay actually sorted that out last weekend. Well tonight, we have traced another oil leak coming from the base of the fuel pump :roll: However, I think if we get this sorted out, we are pretty much there.....he says confidently :? Well, apart from the long list of items we found while with Graham at the weekend.

Well just to say that we are hanging on in there and really hoping that we are going through the teething problem stage as I think that over all we have a good van, we have just been a bit unlucky and need to learn shed loads

Many thanks for everyone's support and I cannot wait until we have enough knowledge to stop asking dumb questions all the time.

Many thanks all and enjoy your buses this weekend, it is going to be a hot one.

 

[ozziedog]

The only dumb question,,,,,,,,, is the one you don`t ask,

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,, 8) 8)

 

[ibérico]

Great to see you managed to get it running , thanks to Graham... If you make it home in one piece after this first outing I guarantee you will never ever think again about getting rid of the van.... Had mine for 12 years now and never looked back! Enjoy life

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

ibérico, many thanks and I am sure you are right......just wish ours was on the road but should be back with us tomorrow Should have been back with us today but the wrong fuel pump was sent :evil: