volkswagen Vanagon Used Parts Online

The T3 generation of the Volkswagen Type 2, also known as the Vanagon in the U.S., as the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, and also to some in the United Kingdom and Ireland as the T25, was built from 1980 until 1991. It was the last of the rear-engined Volkswagens. History The Vanagon was built to be the modern successor to the Microbus. The vehicle, unfortunately, was underpowered given its curb weight. Versions of the Vanagon produced in South Africa from 1990 until 2002 featured a Audi five-cylinder engine which helped performance greatly. Installing engines from more powerful vehicles — including gasoline and turbo diesel inline-4 Volkswagens, Fords, Subarus, Audis, and Porsches — is a solution pursued by some owners. The predominant variant to the Transporter configuration, the Westfalia camper conversion, was available throughout the production of the Vanagon. This option was quite popular, and included an array of creature comforts for a family to enjoy on a weekend outing including a pop up roof, refrigerator, sink, and stove. 1980 to 1985 vans are easily identified by round headlights and chrome-plated steel bumpers with plastic end-caps. Air-cooled models (1980 to Mid-Year 1983) lack the lower grill above the radiator of the water cooled models, except on models with factory air conditioning installed. 1986 model year vehicles received several revisions, which included a more luxurious interior with a tachometer, more fabric choices, redesigned air conditioner, larger water cooled engine with a more advanced engine management system, and redesigned transmissions including an optional Syncro all-wheel drive. Exterior changes include rectangular headlights, which are probably the most notable change, and different paint options. Alloy wheels, larger and squarer plastic bumpers with trim along the rocker panels were options and standard equipment on Wolfsburg Edition vans. Features With the engine and transaxle mounted very low in the back, the Vanagon had much larger disc brakes in the front, and drums in the rear. Axle weight is very nearly equal upon both the front and back ends of the vehicle. Unlike the Microbus before it, the Vanagon was available with amenities such as power steering, air conditioning, power door locks, electrically controlled and heated mirrors, lighted vanity mirrors, and a light above the glove box. The Vanagon air conditioning was, rather unconventionally, of the "hanging" type. That is, all components of the air conditioning system that are internal to the vehicle hang from the ceiling. The air conditioning housings are infamous for cracking and falling down after the vehicle has gotten older, and there were even recalls issued to address the problem. Starting with the 1986 model year, there was available a greatly improved air conditioning system that not only does not suffer as badly from the cracking housings, but also does a better job of cooling the interior of the van on hot summer days. This later system features an "airliner" style plastic duct that runs the length of the vehicle in the center with adjustable outlets at set intervals, rather than cooling the entire rear section via a single bank of outlets facing aft above and behind the front seats. The controls are above the sun visors in the front of the vehicle for both systems until the 1988 model year when they were moved to the dash. The air conditioning ductwork for the 1988 and later years was, arguably, a much more attractive color, being grey instead of beige. The grey color housings hold their color better than the beige, which tends to yellow considerably over a several year period. This was one of the few vehicles ever in which the automatic transmission was tougher than the manual transmission, which was caused by the fact that, up until the 1990 model year, the 3-4 Gear Synchro Slider Hub was of a flawed design. The automatic was a standard hydraulic 3-speed unit, the same 090/010 unit as used in Audis of the era. These featured an aluminum case for the transmission section, and a cast iron case for the final drive section. The Vanagon has some unusual features, such as the fact that the brake master cylinder is inside the dashboard. The battery in gasoline-powered models is located under the passenger side front seat, to protect it from the elements. There is a compartment of slightly smaller size under the driver's side seat, for a second battery, which wasn't present except in the case of certain "Weekender" camper models. The oil filler tube for the engine is located behind the flip-down license plate door, and this requires extra care when pulling into a full-service gas station, as the gas station attendant will most likely try to put gasoline into the oil unless instructed otherwise, as the caps are not clearly marked. Most early vans had a twist-on/off gas cap right on the outside just under and behind the passenger side door. A locking cap was optional, but like other amenities, became very common on later models. The spare tire lies in a tray under the very front of the van just below the radiator. To get the spare out, one must undo a 19 mm bolt in the bottom of the front bumper, pull a small latch back, and swing the tray down. Overall, these vehicles have exceptionally well-built and strong chassis (frames) that are often found to be as good as new underneath, thus creating a platform with good scope for very long life if given even the minimum attention annually.

Engines Gasoline There were four general gasoline engine variants between 1979 and 1991, with several sub-models. All were push-rod horizontally opposed four-cylinder engines. Available engine options differed between regions. Air-cooled (1979-1982 1.6 L (1584cc) (60bhp) (Serial # CT) air-cooled, single Solex 34 PICT-4 carburettor, available on non-USA models 2.0 L (1970cc) (67bhp) (Serial # CU or CV) air-cooled, twin Solex 34 PDSIT-2/3 carburettor or fuel injected (Bosch L-Jetronic, USA models) flat-4 in the 1980 to 1983 1/2 models Water-cooled (1983 onwards) 1.9 litre engines: 1.9 L (1913cc) (83bhp) (Serial # DH) water-cooled (or "Wasserboxer") engine used for the 1983 1/2 to 1985 models, which used a fuel injection system known as "Digijet" (Digital Jet-tronic) 1.9 L (1913cc) (59bhp) (Serial # DF) 8.6:1 compression ratio, 34-PICT carburetor 1.9 L (1913cc) (76bhp) (Serial # DG) 8.6:1 compression ratio, 2E3 or 2E4 carburetor 1.9 L (1913cc) (55bhp) (Serial # EY) 7.5:1 compression ratio, 34-PICT carburetor 1.9 L (1913cc) (89bhp) (Serial # GW) 8.6:1 compression ratio, Bosch Digijet electronic fuel injection 2.1 Litre engines: 2.1 L (2100cc) (95bhp) (Serial # MV) Wasserboxer, used until the end of Vanagon importation into the US in 1991. This engine used a more advanced engine management system known as Bosch "Digifant I" which now digitally managed ignition timing as well as fuel delivery. 2.1 L (2100cc) (90bhp) (Serial # SS) 9:1 compression ratio Wasserboxer 2.1 L (2100cc) (112bhp) (Serial # DJ) 10:1 compression ratio, Digijet injection, only sold in European countries not requiring catalytic converter.