Novice owners operating aircooled VW's

Thanks Jan, i didn't want to look all cocky - i'm still learning myself.

 

Ok hands up, I didn't realise that.

 

Trouble is if you don't know something you probably also don't know that you need to know it!

Sometimes you just have to learn by your mistakes/experience. After all, if you cook one engine, you're unlikely to do it again (unless you're Congi ).

 

I am deffo a novice owner and its great using the Haynes Manual and the "how to keep your bus alive's" and even the occasional youtube video but its being able to view the Mech & Tech pages on here and just ask people for clarification and advice that I really like. Even the battery problem I had with Kitty this last week may seem ridiculously "should know" but as a result of the comments on here, I've got a better understanding of how the alternator works. I'm even going to play with my shims tomorrow just because I can.

 

i don't think it has anything to do with being a novice owner as such as not being used to older vehicles, i would imagine a high percentage of owners of these vans who ask a lot of what could be termed "silly" questions probably never had an older vehicle before, i'm not talking old in the way we consider a 2000 model car to now be 12 years old, but i mean old as in a 1980 or earlier vehicle, these vehicles and earlier are when cars needed basic maintainance rather than modern cars where checking the oil is as hard as it gets, i'm lucky in a way that although i hadn't even sat in a vw 18 months ago i'd had 21 years of landrover ownership so was used to getting the bonnet up, the way a vehicle comes apart/works/goes back together is pretty similar across the two marques and i'm lucky that mechanical things interest me and i'm able to soak info up quite well if i enjoy it, the main problem i struggle with is petrol engine and associated workings as i'd not had a petrol powered car for many years before this van.

 

trust m e on this mate , ive been told not to bother bringing my bus to various MOT approved commercial garages cos" the mechanics are too young and dont understand them"!!! yup,! dont understand what is basically a big old covered up 70"s motorbike (imo) >as J. Muir says in his weighty tombe " do it yourself/learn to do it yourself cos no one else will love YOUR bus/take as much care of your bus as you do/will "<<soooo true !

 

the best thing anyone can do in my opinion to learn about these vans is to join a local meet, the amount you learn off others is amazing and you'll make some good mates to boot.

 

Or...

Come to techenders.

 

Perhaps techenders does seem expensive ? i"d go for the learning experience , The Times motoring supp. today, modern car? 10pence clip needed fitted , then>>> £75 for authorised dealer to re set "electronic brain" re acceptance re same of clip ! also ,. new tyres fitted? another wedge to dealer who has the necc. softwear ,to update the "brain" !! under european law , all independant dealers must have access to this/any softwear , but the dealers can charge wot they want to allow a.n. other dealer (independant) to access it.>>death of independants writ large all over that one!.

 

Ricky has confused you. Techenders is a FREE FREE FREE done for the pure love of it.

However a well known lowering place recently ran a copycat event and charged. I think that's what he was referring to.

 

yep you're confused i should have said a TYPE of tekenders event ours is the original of the 2 (coded words)

 

sometimes you have to be DETECTIVES to understand posts

 

It'd be easier if you just typed it out in plain English Ricky...


I would've said Queens English, but I didn't want to stress you out too much