I believe someone posted to this group trying to drum up support for
getting all 93 EV's recalled for this serious safety problem. The fact
that VW has not done this on it's own is a good reason for not buying
their products in the future. The new Passat is a great car, but I for
one would not buy it until I see more integrity demonstrated by VWUSA
on this. It's one thing to not stand behind annoying design problems;
it's another entirely for not addressing a potentially deadly problem
that is relatively inexpensive to fix.

I replaced all of the crimp cramps with top quality ABA brand screw
clamps that do not damage hoses. The thing still leaked at cold. After
much frustration, I traced the problem to the two lines (one blue and
one black) that come from the gas tank. The lines are a hard plastic
that terminate with a brass ferule to a short rubber line that connects
to the metal fittings near the engine. The ferule clamps down over the
two lines and a brass tube in the middle. The problem is that the
rubber line cracks very prematurely with age; you can not see the tiny
cracks until you dissassemble it. There are two fixes: replace both of
the lines completely (expensive parts and a complicated repair to get
at the fuel tank). One could probably persuade VW to pay for this with
enough persistence. This is preferred, since the other end of the line
down at the gas tank may have the same cracking going on. That end is
exposed to much less heat, however.

The second is to carefully dissamble both of these lines, preserving
the inner brass tube. The rubber tube can be replaced by a same size
fuel line, and clamped over the hard plastic tube after forcing the
brass tube inside it (this takes some persistence). This approach has
worked fine for me, and has been working well for over a year at all
temperatures. Obviously, I can't recommend it to anyone else given the
safety issues involved.

-Gregg Burgess

开云体育

Must say the rear seats are cool for conversation as well as the occasional rained-out picnic.聽 The only down-side is that the front seats do not recline at all when the two rear-facing seats are in place.聽 This can be troubling when passenger A wants to lean back a tad for a little shut-eye.聽 Solution is to remove the jump seat when camping and when 7 passenger seating is not needed.聽 Good spot for the cooler - seat belt wraps right around it and goes thru both handles - allowing access by long armed drivers.聽

MV storage is excellent - extending waaaay under the folding bed.聽 I can get all my camping gear under there leaving the back deck for clothing, food and necessities.聽 I think that there should be some curtains hidden away on-board that snap into place.聽聽 My weekender has them.聽

We rarely use the table other than for the occasional on-the-road or rained-out camping meal. I will sometimes use it to place a small VDO camera so my kids can watch a movie during a particularly long stretch of highway.聽 Nice to know its there in a pinch tho.聽

Bruce

93 MV WK

Does the rear seat fold down into a small bed on an MV?聽 It also looked like it had a nifty storage compartment behind the rear bench, a la the Camper set-up.

This model was not a weekender version, but looked like curtains could be added.聽 I'm curious to know from current MV owners whether the rear facing seats are useful or a novelty.聽 The little table was handy, but again, is it useful?聽 Is the MV as versatile as it appears?

In a message dated 9/7/99 6:19:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
hfleming@... writes:

<< In talking with the salesman, it appears the
only difference between the Weekender and the MV (for 1999) is;
no pop top on the MV and no cooler under the left hand jump seat. >>


The Weekender gets the curtains that slide instead of snap in place as well
as the extra battery and I think a larger alternator. My only regret is I
wish the AC was better venilated to the rear.

Rolland
99 Weekender

In a message dated 9/7/99 5:57:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
taizo@... writes:

<< Must say the rear seats are cool for conversation as well as the
occasional rained-out picnic. >>

This was one of the big factors when we got our Weekender. We tailgate
before and after college football games and in Oregon we do get 1-2 games
with some drizzle. Also during the summer months we crew for hot air
balloons in the local area. Makes for a nice place to hole up if we are
trying to out smart a windy day.

Rolland
99 Weekender

In a message dated 9/7/99 3:24:26 PM EST, drj9009@... writes:

<< While at my FLVWD today (my breakaway mirror broke), I noticed a slightly
used '99 MV on the lot.&nbsp; It had the two rear facing middle seats.&nbsp;
Not wanting to be bugged to death by a salesman, I peered inside solo.&nbsp;
Does the rear seat fold down into a small bed on an MV?&nbsp; It also looked
like it had a nifty storage compartment behind the rear bench, a la the
Camper set-up.

This model was not a weekender version, but looked like curtains could
be added.&nbsp; I'm curious to know from current MV owners whether the
rear facing seats are useful or a novelty.&nbsp; The little table was handy,
but again, is it useful?&nbsp; My wife has a Honda CRV which has a small
folding table and cooler under the rear deck.&nbsp; It's a clever idea,
but we've only had the table out once since we bought it (a demonstration
to my in-laws).&nbsp; Sometimes clever ideas exceed practicality.&nbsp;
Is the MV as versatile as it appears? >>


I have the 93 Weekender and for my use I find:
1) The rear facing seats are useful when you need to transport more than five
people. However, since our normal household consists of only my wife and me,
I have taken out those two seats to provide more room to haul "stuff." When
we have visitors, we put the two seats back in and use the EV to transport up
to seven people short distances (up to about an hour one way). When the rear
facing seats are in, the front seats cannot be reclined and often are better
suited if these seats are moved a little forward so that the middle seat
backs can be reclined from a straight up position.

2) The table is quite useful for meals and/or for a passenger to do paper
work. For safety reasons, the table is not supposed to be up when the
vehicle is in motion; however,....

3) The rear bench seat folds into a comfortable bed. I would not describe
the bed in the MV as "small." There is plenty of room there. This is in
contrast to the Camper version which has cabinetry on the left side impinging
on the bed's width. In the MV, when some sporting buddies and I travel to
races, we often travel with the bench seat made into a bed and we have two
guys resting while the other two navigate. Again, safety says the passengers
should have their seat belts fastened when the vehicle is in motion and the
head rests up but, here again, we do what we find is convenient.

4) If you have kids in the vehicle, I think you need to be very safety
conscious and ignore the above points.

Bob

In a message dated 9/7/99 12:08:29 PM EST, ws@... writes:

<< 1) replacing the side windows...the sliding door window and the window
opposite, with camper or "MV" windows...the ones where 1/2 the window
slides open. >>


I have a 93 Weekender with the sliding rear windows and hardly, if ever, use
them opened when the EV is moving. They make too much wind noise and provide
little if any air circulation. When we travel with more than two in the EV,
the ventilation system (A/C, heat, or just vent) is in operation.

Now when we camp, it's a different story.

Bob

We love our 99 MV. Shortly after we got it a couple of months ago we (2
adults, 4 kids) took a trip from NC to ME. The table was up most of the
time, being used for card playing, coloring, etc. Nobody got sick in the
rear-facing seats.

The rear seat does fold to a bed, but when it's configured that way, the
rear-facing seats are folded up and unusable. Our '90 Vanagon GL had the
forward facing middle bench, and could have the middle bench in use with the
bed configured. We miss that part.

Tim

On Tue, 7 Sep 1999, InPhase ReSearch wrote:

We chose the non weekender version for the rear AC (not available on the
Weekender). We have show dogs, and when we go to shows, we pop out the
rear facing seats, and throw in the dog crates. It is a truly versatile
van. We plan on trading the '93 for a '99 or 2000, one of these days.

Well it works for show ferrets as well as for show dogs. Yes you can
actually show ferrets...

Had a llama take a ride in ours once as well.

bill
--
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets

mailto:killian@...

As to David's inquiry about the MV, we love ours; a '93 (not a weekender).
The rear facing seats are great for conversation in the back. I have
hauled grandkids, band members, friends, and it is the same; everyone
enjoys it. the table is great for games (although VW does not recommend
having it up while driving, we have never had a problem. The bed is a
nice touch, although we augment it with self inflating foam camping pads.
Instead of draw curtains (like the weekender), the MV has snap on curtains
to block out the light.

We chose the non weekender version for the rear AC (not available on the
Weekender). We have show dogs, and when we go to shows, we pop out the
rear facing seats, and throw in the dog crates. It is a truly versatile
van. We plan on trading the '93 for a '99 or 2000, one of these days.

Cheers

Tomas Jones

On Tue, 7 Sep 1999, David R. Johnson wrote:

While at my FLVWD today (my breakaway mirror broke), I noticed a slightly
used '99 MV on the lot.� It had the two rear facing middle seats.� Not
wanting to be bugged to death by a salesman, I peered inside solo.� Does
the rear seat fold down into a small bed on an MV?� It also looked like
it had a nifty storage compartment behind the rear bench, a la the Camper
set-up.

This model was not a weekender version, but looked like curtains could be
added.

If the '99 is like the '93, it should come with snap in curtains and yes
the bench can become a table. The vast majority of the time the bench is
up and the table is down. But sure is nice for those other times. At
least in our uses.

We had a lot of trouble with the handy dandy flourescent light falling
off on our '93 MV. THe table would sometimes not latcha all the way and
rattle but a quick shove always solved that.

--
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets

mailto:killian@...

While at my FLVWD today (my breakaway mirror broke), I noticed a slightly used '99 MV on the lot.聽 It had the two rear facing middle seats.聽 Not wanting to be bugged to death by a salesman, I peered inside solo.聽 Does the rear seat fold down into a small bed on an MV?聽 It also looked like it had a nifty storage compartment behind the rear bench, a la the Camper set-up.

This model was not a weekender version, but looked like curtains could be added.聽 I'm curious to know from current MV owners whether the rear facing seats are useful or a novelty.聽 The little table was handy, but again, is it useful?聽 My wife has a Honda CRV which has a small folding table and cooler under the rear deck.聽 It's a clever idea, but we've only had the table out once since we bought it (a demonstration to my in-laws).聽 Sometimes clever ideas exceed practicality.聽 Is the MV as versatile as it appears?

Thanks in advance,
David

Did your van have ABS?

Amazing camper van like no other. Excellent '95 VW Eurovan camper for
sale. Audi engine/Winnebago pkg.-- refrig, stove, sink, furnace,
shower, etc. Phillips Shortwave radio. Sleeps 4. New tires. 88,000
miles. Winston-Salem, NC. $19,500. Call 1-336-785-3819/

Hey guys,

My '93 GL has, as you know, just the two front windows that open.

I'd like to add some more ventilation (I have rear A/C, and it does
quite well, but better airflow would be apprictaed when the A/C isn't
really needed).

I'm thinking of two possibilities:

1) replacing the side windows...the sliding door window and the window
opposite, with camper or "MV" windows...the ones where 1/2 the window
slides open.

2) installing some kind of roof vent in the rear somplace

Thoughts and opinions?

Thanks...

--

Bill Salopek
ICQ: 20536257
No worries...
Business:
Home:

I posted something on this long ago. I had the gas smell and leak at cold start
up. I checked and replace the clamps but it was a split fuel line on the right
side of the engine that attached to a metal line (cold start rail).
Justin

After all the many helpful replies I received about my loss of power problem
I wanted to report that last Thursday finally made the decision to get the
catalytic converter replaced by a Meineke shop on the calculated probability
that the CC was the culprit. Turns out that the CC was VERY clogged (as the
technician showed me, once he had removed it). The new one cost $235
installed, which is a far cry from the $800-plus VW wanted.

The Eurovan now runs fine, without the progressive power loss and heat I was
having, and I fully expect to survive at least long enough to witness the
turn of the millennium.

But a few points:

Since the installation of the new CC, I can tell that I am getting just a
little less power when accelerating than I used to have (before the CC
problem). This is more noticeable in 4th and 5th gears, especially if I am
climbing. Should I be concerned about this? I'm assuming the air flow on
the new CC (being generic) may be a little different than on the standard VW
part.

The technician who replaced the CC told me that they don't fail on their
own, and that something damaged mine; and he advised me to try to find out
what the cause was. He suggested ignition system problems, distributor
problems, backfiring, etc.

Again, thanks to all who helped me on this.

I'm just testing to see whether the new eGroups.com list is working before I
send an actual posting. Please disregard.

Dear Listmates,

I have not owned a Eurovan for long but one thing that has struck me is
the number of "FIRES" in Eurovans. There weren't that many imported to the
small underpopulated part of Canada I live in. Yet I know of at least 3
that were destroyed by fire. One in 1993 in a refueling error, and 2
others. The fires were not related to camping but engine compartment /fuel
system related.

I bring this up not alarm anyone but to point out there may be problems
associated with this aspect of EVs and to suggest if you think you have
fuel related problems get them checked out NOW>

Reg

Reply to them not me.

I can personally vought for AutoHaus in Lancaster PA. I live in Wilmington
where there is a VW dealership only minutes from my house, but they dont
deal with EVCs. I found AutoHaus on the Web and eventually purchased from
them. They were willing to deal on the price some and actually had an EVC
waiting for me when I got there ( 51 miles away ). Their service after the
sale has been the best I have seen from any new car dealer. My salesmans
name was Jesse 717 299-2801 x 231. You can mention my name he will remember
me. This could help you in your negotiations with VW of WV. Good luck.