Pinzgauer mystery ailments: List yours!

[75pinz]

I know just enough about the trucks to be mildly dangerous. I don't take shortcuts, at least on purpose and I don't change much from stock. I find not messing with it tends to get me the most reliability. Now, that being said, my ambulance barely runs and I would love to be closer to Dennis or Scott or Jim or Peter to just get the GDamn thing running right. I know it's probably simple and I also know it's probably a combination of small things.
What I do know for sure is that some people can fix cars, some people can fight wars, some people can do taxes. I can usually fix most of my stuff, I can do my taxes.
I have worked with severe behavior problem adolescents for a number of years though. I have had TV's thrown at me, stabbed with a fork, knocked unconcious with a phone, etc. We all have skills. Mine is being beaten and still looking for teachable moments at the same time...

[andy]

75pinz, I cannot speak for the other posters to this thread, but I suspect there was nothing personally directed at you in the responses. I sense a certain frustration level from the pros out there. I am greatfull as can be when someone takes time to respond to what, to more knowledgeable folks out there, is probably dumb or basic

It can be almost intimidating, but they do answer, openly and freely. It boggles the mind that people from around the globe will check in here and help out.

How often before you got your Pinz were you talking to people from Austrailia or Luxemberg? I would have never imagined it.

[todds112]

I am not afraid to tackle "almost" any repair with the right tools, right manuals, and good advice. I love that feeling of solving a problem, buttoning everything up and have it work right. Having a few mis-steps along the way just makes the fix that much more rewarding. That's how I learn, just try it, figure it out.

Plus, every repair I do, I get more familiar with the truck. The more familiar I get, the more I can fix properly. That's the joy of owning a relatively "simple" vehicle.

Of course, living here I need to be fairly self sufficient. I did find a Classic Porche Guru here in town that is a master of the Zenith and has offered to help me with my carbs. I will probably take him up on it.

[lindenengineering]

Andy
You have hit the nail on the head about the internet.
I think its great I can pass the time of day with "Peter down under" without ever meeting him.
The same goes for us VM's unknown to one another, who exchange info about car fix/problems on a daily basis.

I'll give you an example. About five years ago I serviced my first Volks Eurovan. I had to drain the transmission oil and do a trans service, plus correct a leak. How much is the refill qty came up? Fortunately I kept the "drains" in a seperate can so I could more or less guess the actual fill.
I called the local dealer. "Oh you need to bring it in for a scan to determine the level, that's about $101 plus oil". Came the reply.

So from my old Leyland/Daf days I picked up the phone and called down the Santiago (more or less on the same time zone as Denver) and an old friend Christian who now runs a Volks dealership in the city. Although the conversation was in Spanish. I chatted with a conversant senior Chilean mechanic who set the oil level the old fashioned way with a makeshift dipstick. I gleened there is no way the local dealer is going up to the Atacama desert with an expensive scanner to set the oil level on a local Volks Eurovan. This was their tried and trusted method--AND it worked. Estupendo!

Look some people have a bent for fixing things, I have three sons, two of which have absolutely no interest in cars and a young one of four years who has promise. He has already been caught trying to take the gas stove apart. If someone opened the back of the Sony for me to fix I would be lost; as I would trying to look inside the head of some troubled teen.
As we say in ther trade (what trade) If it was easy they would all be doing it----Doing what?
Cheers Dennis

[andy]

Todd, I hear ya. I have had some small victories on my Pinz. But I think somewhere along the way you have had some basic training or experience in vehicle mechanics. Most of what I have done has no practical value on the street what so ever.

Not much of a demand for a forward electronic technician off an old fast attck sub out here. I haven't found any ads for trackers, which I got real good at in the border patrol. And since I've retired from Customs nobody has offered me money to work a money laundering case or write affidavits for search and seizure warrants. I was really good at those.

I do so like this site and the folks on it and I learn everyday.

Cheers

[PinzEOD]

A very interesting thread indeed.

I consider myself "competent" in the mechanical and common sense departments (based on passing thru my prior life with all fingers and toes intact). The Pinz is a simple machine, in an electronics-free sort of way. Patience and confidence are the two most important tools for maintaining and repairing the thing, an adequate budget always helps of course.

A bargain up front, but expensive to maintain? I disagree, though for me it's more a hobby vehicle than primary transportation. I enjoy the tinker factor, the challenge of syncing the carbs, setting the valves, etc. The heavier stuff I've done like pulling the heads or changing the axle housing were definitely a challenge, yet somewhat enjoyable as long as you have the first two tools I mentioned above...and of course...expert advice from this board!

There has been a time or two where I wish I could drive on over to one of the Pros and have them take a look at something, but distance is a limiting factor for me, prompting many learning experiences.

A Pinz is not for the foolhardy...but I'd never discourage ownership to anyone who can change their own oil and do their own tune-ups, and enjoy doing so. There are many folks I know who should only buy new, but just as many who love tinkering with the old. Own it, maintain it, enjoy it.

[lindenengineering]

Gents
This is a message based upon experiences and comments mentioned on this thread. Essentially made in China, but it could be India, or somewhere similar. I am talking about the US in general, but I would appreciate input from the four continents. Basically I am PISSED.
With who? You might ask!
Napa and several others including AC Delco. I even suspect Niachi the Jap bearing maker is digusing "es haigch one tee" from China.

The problem is getting worse, you blokes need to be label concious to avoid operating problems. With the US Dollar in the doldrums buyers are shoving cheap crap made in India as viable alternatives to the real thing.
Take spark plugs Bosch 7500 for your Pinz. They can be obtained from India, Brazil, or Germany. Only buy the latter if you can find them. I am using NGK 'cos I can't find good plugs. that work.

Those of you using wide rims! I have noticed a big drop in bearing life from Nachi. I suspect these are Chinese products labelled as made in Japan. Basically poop dressed up as pudding!

Last week I had an old customer call me about a failed alternator on his 97 Rangie. I had only put a new one on 8 months ago. Job card record was $456. I installed in turn an FOC a new alternator by AC Delco; the bloody thing failed after 18 hours of use! I bunged on another factory part at $525 to solve the problem, not to mention the call out time and mech labor to fix a stranded Rangie.
We conducted a post mortem on the failed units. the guts were all made in China and had collapsed. It is clear importers and buyers are sourcing cheap parts made in China but assenmbled elsewhere to give the product some credibility.
There is talk about gremlins don't complicate the problem with crap parts. use only genuine parts.
dennis

[andy]

Dennis, that is scary. How am I to know from going to NAPA or another parts store that the guts of something is from elsewhere? That is nothing short of fraud.

Have you considered calling your local ICE office? It used to be Customs and I know they used to actively pursue cases of false marking of origin etc. There could be duties that weren't paid on these items, which usually motivates government employees, or at least the supervisors. For all I know they could be concentrating their resources on chasing the guys that do landscaping nowadays.

[PinzEOD]

Several mechanics where I work insist on OEM parts for most of their GM work orders. They're not too happy to point out that AC Delco plugs and wires now come from Korea and Mexico. Hard parts, too, now often originate in China, Canada and Mexico, still OEM tho.

[Erik712m]

all of the parts on my new ford say brazil or mexico. I will look in a little bit but I believe the door plate says made in mexico assembled in the U.S.

[David Dunn]

With the globalization of everything.... you'll soon be looking for the " Made on Earth" label.

Some day,people will be saying, " I wouldn't buy anything made on Mars, Martians make things inferior, with poor quaility contro!"


btw Erik, some Ford were using Japanese starters back in the 80s

[andy]

Alot of Ford stuff is made either in Canada or Mexico. That part I'm used to, but if I read it right, Dennis was talking about the outside of a unit relecting one country of origin while the inside was something else.

But, somewhat sadly, I think you are more right than you want to believe, Mr Dunn.

[David Dunn]

Andy, trade the word "made" for "assembled". that is the key word. the parts could be from anywhere in the world.

Dennis didn't say anything illegal on the manufacture, but from the post implied that he bought a known ( expected to be quality) manufacturer, but was made/or assembled with parts that you would not expect.
Range Rovers have some electronic components that are made in China. And they are not unique to that, just part of the trend.

I distribute commercial door hardware for several US companies and a German one ( among others). It has become more commonplace for products to be made "off shore" ( as it is refered to in the industry). The German company has had factories all over the world, from Singapore to Brazil ( some for well over 20 years), and has components made in Taiwan and China, besides factories the US.

Comes down to reading the label, then read between the lines.

Dave Dunn

[andy]

Dave, at one point I didn't want to purchase anything from China. Think sooner or later we will be at war with them over influence and resources. But, that's neither here nor there right now. Heck, most of what you get from WalMart is made in China.

My decision time came when I needed feed bags. I couldn't get any here for a decent price that would be reuseable a couple of times and ended up buying from a guy in San Antonio who gets them from China.

So, I sold out to reality over principles, but it is almost impossible not to in this instance.

[David Dunn]

So, I sold out to reality over principles, but it is almost impossible not to in this instance.

An so will go every manufacturing job in the US