I thought I'd see if we could do a bit of scientific study into what causes breakdowns on these buses. I'm trying to establish if there is a link between quality of parts and/or workmanship and breakdown's - if there is, the next stage is if there is anything we can do to prevent them. In the future I might run one against everyone's modern cars to see if that relationship still exists. The poll is multiple entry, as there is often more than one factor that caused the breakdown - if you fill this in only for your last breakdown. If you've never broken down - I've added a Smugness section
I've voted... "never broken down"... i am now S4it scared that the sword of damocles will strike me down... If i breakdown this weekend I will hold you personally responsible
My last breakdown was caused by a valve guide falling out and damaging the head, valves and piston. As far as I could tell it was the original head etc from 40 years ago. The breakdown prior to that was one of the carb floats developing a leak, filling up and over fuelling that side of the engine. Again that float was at least 10 years old if not more.
My only break down was a clutch cable snapping. Edit: oh ye, and a spark-plug being shot out of the cracked head like a missile on the way to Techenders! That was fixed over the weekend though with a borrowed head and lots of help from my fellow campers!
My only proper breakdown was the accelerator pedal was so rusted it just crumbled into dust. Also got a puncture following this year's Tour de France
As my daily to work van and after 4 years and 48000 miles , points failed - (plastic slider broke off), and number 4 cylinder head cracked next to spark plug hole spitting it out! (Still got me home on 3 though and mo-grips holding the plug in!) I found out why , one of the cylinder head studs had come loose (when I had stripped it down last week), the barrel must have been vibrating as I could see some black soot leakage and of course over heated? Cant complain though its a good engine and I will keep rebuilding it as long as I can keep the van.
6 runs on Santa Pod drag strip caused my last breakdown, if it can be called a breakdown as one side of the engine still worked. A sheared rocker stud was the symptom but I guess you could call it 'driver error' as the root cause
I have had wires drop off the ignition coil twice on bumpy roads. Both times pushed the wire back and carried on. Only once called the AA so far and that was a combo of worn alternator brushes and a loose wire from the alternator letting the battery go flat gradually without the warning light coming on properly. A boost charge got me home.
Earth strap.........bolt fell out of gear stick ..........loose wiring........dizzy cap........dizzy cap........dizzy cap.............dizzy cap......
A common cause : Long periods of SORN followed by a long drive causing rubber to harden through non use then rubber to split through use. Also true when you buy a bus that according to VOSA has done fewer miles with the last five owners over the last 8 years than you attempt on your first big trip.
Never broken down in this bus (had it about 19 or 20 years) dont do many miles now but used to do about 10k a year in it. Relaible eh but then again loads of preventative maintenance done cos stuff was on the way out (like - a new engine.....). It is, however rusting away before my very eyes. Breakdowns of my other vehicles within that period would be (if I can recall) Fiesta - threw a rod through the case Kawasaki - never found out and still needs fixing after 8 years C max - clutch cylinder, clutch and DMF (all in one go) - EGR valve
Failure to recognise the level of maintenance required not to break down. Going too fast for too long.
Gearbox input shaft seal was my last one, probably could have carried on but didn't want to take a chance not knowing exactly where the oil leak was from.
The sword of Damocles hath fallen, Until last weekend I could be a smug git. The cause of the breakdown new(ish) gearbox related, the fault as yet undetermined.
Sounds like the top 2 reasons for breakdowns. I worked as a mechanic for these things, and about 60% of all breakdown calls I got for classic VW's in general, were related to points or other minor electrical issues on the ignition. Only breakdown I had was the windscreen exploding while passing a construction truck, but that wasn't avoidable by any type of maintenance.
I've had 2ish half breakdowns, which I've fixed by the road. The pivot pin on the crappy Brazilian fuel worked it's way out the pump housing which meant the pump was only half working on the m25. Pressed it back in with pump pliers, got home and threw the pump away. The other thing is the intermitant starter solonoid fault which has happened four times in 10 years. A quick tap and it's fine
