Vanag’n Shenanigans

The Burly Beast purrs like a kitten. We have had very few hairballs considering the number of miles we’ve asked her to take us day after day.


However, north of Mazatlan she died. Mike’s initial diagnostics indicated battery problems. A kindly soul appeared out of nowhere and gave us a jump and some ice cream packed in an orange peel as a treat and we were on our way.

We have several back-up batteries and an internal battery charger that allowed us to start her the next day---but we knew there was an issue that needed to be addressed.


Out came the Bentley Manual, a.k.a. the Vanagon Bible. Mike traced the problem to the alternator and cleaned the brushes. This worked, but we feared it wasn’t the complete solution.


As we were leaving our site in Celestino, Teo, an ex-pat, off-handedly mentioned there was a good VW mechanic in Mazatlan. “There’s a guy. His name is Victor. His place is easy to find.” We got the directions (south on the malecon, turn left at the aquarium and the road dead-ends at his shop) and we were off.


Victor and his crew removed the alternator, replaced the regulator and brushes, and reinstalled it on the spot, all for $51.


Then there was the day we came upon a flock of buzzards eating carrion in the middle of the road. Our approaching vehicle dispersed them and as they flew over head they shat upon us. Like no other odor known to man. We had to stop on the side of the road and try to rinse off the Farf. This was not enough.


We sought out an Auto-Lavado to have her scrubbed down. Sadly, the guy doing the job somehow broke the hinges on our spare-tire gate at the back of the vehicle.


Next we sought out a solderada (welder) to repair said gate.

Four Dollar car wash; $30 gate repair. Good as new.
Other than these shenanigans, we have been tooling down the road quite nicely.