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Article Library
Welcome to the Library!
In this area, you will find scores of great articles loaded with useful tips and tricks to keep your beloved Bus, Vanagon, and Eurovan happily cruising down the road. Select a primary category, then refine your search by keyword to locate any article we've written that meets your criteria. Don't see what you're looking for? Article suggestions can be emailed to support@gowesty.com.
All Articles:
- Cylinder Head Temps: Why Is It So High On My Aircooled Vanagon?
- Additives: Why GoWesty Says "Don't Do It, Ever!"
- Alternator Bracket: The GoWesty Fix
- Antenna: My Antenna Is On the Wrong Side... What Gives?
- Automatic Transaxle Failures in Vanagons: Prevention
- Automatic Transaxle: Kick-Down/Throttle Adjustment
- Automatic Transaxles: The Whole Eurovan Story
- Batteries: How to Keep Your Auxiliary Battery Happy
- Battery Charging: Auxiliary "House" Battery Is Not Charging in my EVC!
- Body Seams: The Scoop
- Brakes: Stuck Rear Brake Syndrome in Vanagons
- Brakes: What is Up with Brakes on My 01-03 Eurovan?
- Bumper Pad Clips for Vanagons Explained
- Cabinet Laminate Installation Tips
- Cam Backlash: The Whole Story
- Camshaft Timing: My New Engine Doesn't Run Right—Is the Cam Timing Off?
- Charge Indicator Light: This Means STOP!
- Check Engine Light (CEL): Eurovan
- Climate Control: Air Conditioning, Heat, and Ventilation Explained
- Clutch Release Bearing Cross Shaft: The Full Story
- Coil Spring Lift for 2WD: Ball Joint Spacers to Improve Suspension Geometry
- Colors and Color Codes Used on Volkswagens
- Compression: It's Good, But What Does That Mean?
- Conversion from 2WD to a 4WD Syncro: Cost and Justification
- Coolant Expansion Tank Story: Vanagon
- Coolant Pipe Repair Kit for Vanagon
- Coolant: Flush It Every Two Years!
- Coolant: Type, Concentration, Mix?
- Cooling System in Vanagons: Explained
- Cooling System Overhaul: A $3 Hose Takes Out a Fresh 2300cc Engine!
- Crankshaft End Play Shims: The Whole Story
- Crankshafts: Evolution of the Flat Four Crankshaft
- Cylinder Heads for Waterboxers: The Full Story
- Decals: How to Remove/Apply Pop-Top Decals
- Decoupler and Solid Shaft vs. Viscous Coupler, Rear "Air Locker"
- Decoupler: Description, Purpose, and Proper Use
- Diesel Engines in Vanagons: Diaries of the Wounded
- Differentials: Fully Open, Posi-Traction, Torque Biasing, and Syncro "Air-Locker"
- Digifant: The Vanagon Highway Hiccups - Hesitation, Cough, Cough
- Digijet EFI: Can I install GoWesty EFI?
- Dimensions: Exterior & Beds
- Distributor Drive Clamp: The Whole Story
- Drive Shaft Replacement for Syncro: The Full Story
- Driveshaft Replacement for Syncro: How-To Instructions
- Engine Block Clearancing: A Tale of Danger
- Engine Block Story: 1.9 vs. 2.1 Waterboxer Designs
- Engine Case Damage at Water Pump
- Engine Core Charge: A Necessary Evil
- Engine Noise: The Vanagon Sticky Lifter Syndrome
- Engine Overheat Indicating Melt Tabs
- Engine Overheated! What Will It Cost Me?!
- Engine Overheating: The Blown "Head Gasket" Isn't a Chicken
- Engine Rebuild Kits: Why Don't We Include Instructions?
- Engine Replacement: What Does That Cost?
- Engine Speed: Will the Larger, More Powerful GW Engine Lower My RPMs?
- Engine Swaps: GoWesty Waterboxer Upgrades Are Not "Engine Swaps"
- Engine Warranty: The Water Pump Warranty Explained
- Engines: How Long Does The VR6 Last?
- Eurovan Lift Kit: Will This Affect My Speedometer/Odometer?
- Eurovan Syncro 4WD: Can I Convert Mine?
- Exhaust Valve Burned: Chicken or the Egg?
- Exhaust: The Stainless Steel Story
- Fasteners: SAE vs. METRIC, What Is Coarse and What Is Fine?
- Flywheel Bolts, Pilot Bearing and Seal: The Whole Story
- Flywheel or "Rear Main" Seal Story
- Front Suspension on the Vanagon: Alignment Challenges
- Fuel Economy: Tire Changes & Engine Changes Affect MPG
- Fuel Gauge System in Vanagon: How to Troubleshoot, Check, and Calibrate
- Fuel Injection 5-Pin Relay: The Whole Story
- Fuel Injectors: The Whole Story
- Fuel Pumps & Fuel Filters on a Vanagon: The Skinny
- Fuel Tank Leaks on Vanagons Explained
- Fuel Tanks & Level Senders: An Investigation
- Fuels: Bio-fuel vs. Petroleum
- Full Story: The GoWesty Fuel Injection Component Replacement Kit
- Gasoline Grade: Which Should I Use in My VW Van?
- GoWesty Dual-Rate Coil Springs: Which Ones and Why?
- GoWesty Parts: Where Are They Made?
- GoWesty Waterboxer Torque/Horsepower Graphs
- Head Gaskets Leaking on Waterboxers
- Head Gaskets on Water-Boxers: To Change or Not to Change...?
- Head Studs: Broken Studs in Waterboxer Engines
- Headlight Comparison: LED vs. Halogen
- Hook-Up Boxes: The Full Story
- Hybrid: Understanding the Concept
- Idle Control Issues: 1986-91 Vanagon
- Importing Cool VW Models Not Sold in the USA
- Instrument Cluster: How to Remove
- Insurance: How Do I Get Adequate Coverage for My Westy?
- Insurance: Totaled Your VW? GoWesty Will Help You Get Justice!
- Jump Starting Your Camper with the Auxiliary Battery
- Larger Wheels for Vanagon: 15", 16", or 17"?
- Leaks & Rattles from the Roof of My Eurovan Full Camper
- Leaning: The Scoop and the Fix for Vanagon Camper Lean Syndrome
- LP Fuel Tank for Vanagon: The Full Story
- Maintenance Schedule Recommendation: Eurovan
- Maintenance Schedule Recommendation: Vanagon
- Maintenance: Break-In Guidelines for all Waterboxer Engines
- Mileage: How Much Does It Really Matter?
- Mirrors: Vanagon Non-Powered (Floppy) Mirrors
- Mirrors: Vanagon power side view mirrors—sans power. What?
- Model Choice: Are You a Vanagon or Eurovan Person?
- Model Overview: Bus, Vanagon, & Eurovan
- Model Overview: Late-Model Eurovan Camper
- Model Types: I, II, III, IV. What?
- No-Crank Symptoms: How to Diagnose the Issue in Vanagons
- Oil Consumption: How to Check in a Waterboxer Engine
- Oil for Transaxles: What Should I Use In My Vanagon Stick-Shift Transaxle?
- Oil Pressure (or Lack Thereof) in Water-Boxer Engines
- Oil Pressure Warning System (Idiot Light/Buzzer) Explained
- Oil Pump: The Whole Story
- Oil Temperature in Vanagons: What is Normal?
- Overdrive: What Does This Mean?
- Oxygen Sensors: Not All Are Created Equal
- Paint Job? You Say You Want a Paint Job?
- Paint: Where can I get some?
- Pistons for Waterboxer: The Whole Story
- Pistons: Ceramic Coatings and NASA Research
- Pistons: GoWesty 2.2 Piston & Liner Set vs. the Competition
- Pistons: What caused them to fail? How can I tell?
- Pop-Top and Luggage Rack Color: The Story
- Pop-Top Ceiling: Mold, Cleaning & Restoration
- Pop-Top Conversion: Hard-Top to Pop-Top and Why it May Not Make Sense
- Pop-Top Tents: Fitment Ins and Outs
- Pop-Top: How to Close Properly
- Power Door Locks 101
- Power Mirror System Explained
- Power Steering: Can I Add it to My Non-Power Steering Van?
- Power Window Switches: Relocate Them!
- Prices: "Cheap" Vanagons Are the Most Expensive
- Prices: Why do GoWesty Campers Command Such a High Price?
- Purchasing a VW Pop-Top Camper: Where To Begin?
- Rear Heater Haters: Why GoWesty? Why?
- Recaro Seats: Are They Really Worth the Money?
- Refrigeration: Built-in vs. Portable
- Restoration: Is There a Shop Near Me Like GoWesty?
- Ride Height: Will My New GoWesty Wheels & Tires Raise My Vanagon?
- Roll-Over Point: How Far Can You Tip Your Westy?
- Roof Racks on a Pop-Top: What, Where and Why
- RPM. What is Best?
- Running Issues: Which Injection or Ignition Part On My Vanagon is Causing the Problem?
- Running My Existing EFI With a Larger GoWesty Engine: How Can This Work?
- Rust: It Never Sleeps
- Seating, Seat Belts, and Sleeping: Vanagon
- Shifter Adjustment Instructions: Vanagon Manual Transaxle
- Shifter Systems: Why the '80-'82 Vanagon System is Terrible!
- Shifting Issue: Tranny, Shifter, or Clutch?
- Shock Absorber Length: Does Adding Lifting Springs Require Longer Shocks?
- Shocks: Which are Best for My Vanagon or Eurovan? Fox or Bilstein?
- Speedometer: Common Failures and a Simple Solution
- Stability: Do I Need New Shocks?
- Steering Pull: Do I Need An Alignment?
- Steering Wheel Grinding Noise: Vanagon
- Stripped Oil Drain Plug: What to Do?
- Suspension Groaning: Vanagon Front Upper Control Arm Bushings
- Suspension Lift & Level Kit for Eurovan
- Suspension: Ride Height and Drive Axles
- Swing-Away Carriers: Which Side?
- Syncro Differential Locks, Wheel Size, Final Drive and Transaxle Gear Ratios
- Syncro Locker Knob: Explained
- Syncro: An 80s Camper With the Soul of an S.U.V
- Temperature Gauge & LED in Vanagons
- Test Mules: GoWesty R&D Vehicles
- Texture Treatment, Steel Bumpers, South African Mud Flaps, and Modified Front Fender Lips
- The Starter Story: Rebuilt Bosch, Gear Reduction or Permanent Magnet?
- Timing Chain Failures on Eurovans: Word of Warning!
- Timing Chain in Eurovan VR6
- Timing: How to Set Digifant EFI Timing
- Tire & Wheel Load Ratings: The Debate is Over!
- Tire Pressure: What is Best?
- Tires: Should I Be Worried About Cracks in the Sidewall?
- Towing with a Vanagon
- Towing Your VW Van
- Transaxle Conversion: Automatic to Manual, and Vice Versa
- Transaxle Life Expectancy
- Transaxle Oil Change: Is that a DIY Dealio?
- Transaxle Sudden Death Syndrome
- Transaxles: Automatic or Manual, Which is Best?
- Upholstery: Eurovan Winnebago Types
- V-Belt Pulley and Seal: Syncro
- Vacuum Leaks and Running Issues: Setting the Record Straight
- Valve Adjustment Screws: The GoWesty Way
- Vehicle Orientation: Which Way is Up?
- Vehicle Transport: What Is the Hold Up?
- Vehicles for Sale: Will GoWesty Restore My Vehicle?
- Video: Eurovan Camper Informational Video
- Video: Eurovan GL, MV, Weekender Instructional Movie
- VIN Decoder
- Warranty: Is the GoWesty Engine Warranty Legit?
- Water Pump on VR6 Engine: The Whole Story
- Waterboxer Development in a Nutshell
- Westy: What Does That Mean?
- Window Moldings on Vanagons
- Window Shades and Curtains on the EVC: The Full Story
- Window Tinting: To Tint Or Not to Tint?
- Winterizing: How to Hibernate Your VW Camper
- Wiper Arms & Wiper Shafts: The Whole Story
- Wolfsburg Weekender: What Does That Mean?
- Yerba Mate Powers GoWesty!