The Vanagon Dictionary

Bus model with individual front seats, allowing passage to the rear.

• bus
• seats

Long rods of steel that replace torsion springs to secure trailing arms

• suspension
• rods

device that circulates the coolant through the engine

• cooling
• engine

A device that measures the current flowing through a circuit

• electrical
• measurement
• ammeter

Achieved through logical arrangement of control stalks and switches

• usability
• safety

A component that pumps oil through an engine

• engine
• oil

valve controlling flow through charcoal filter

• charcoal
• filter
• valve

The system of wires and cables that distribute electrical power throughout the vehicle

• wiring
• electrical

A diagnostic process that guides the user through fault finding

• diagnosis
• fault
• guided

Small rings or tubes that protect wires from damage when passing through holes or edges

• grommets
• wiring

A device that measures the current flowing through a circuit by creating a parallel path

• electrical
• measurement
• shunt

A water purification process that uses pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane

• water
• purification

The unique visual appearance of a vehicle's original paint, worn through to primer or bare metal over time.

• paint
• wear
• appearance

Original type of tire used on VWs through the mid 1960s, with plies that run diagonally from one bead to the other.

• tire
• engine

Any of Volkswagen smaller trucks and vans. known as Type 2 , they evolved through four (4) 'generations': T1 , T2 , T3 , and T4 , but the entire line of vehicles has always been called ' Type 2 '.

The belt-driven pump that circulates engine coolant through the water-cooled Vanagon engine and cooling circuit. It is different from the small electric pump used to deliver water to a camper sink.

• engine
• water-cooled
• cooling

Winnebago converts some EuroVans into mini-motorhomes, by adding Winnebago's own body (aft of the front doors) that's about 20"-24" wider than the normal EuroVan. Inside they install sink, stove, refridgerator, toilet, bed, & cabinets. The Rialta is sold through Winnebago's own network of RV dealers.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation. One of the emission control techniques, in which gases are sucked from the exhaust pipes (before the muffler) and re-circulated through the intake manifold (to be 'burned' again). the high heat associated with exhaust gases required expensive metals ... so replacing/repairing this system can be costly.

The drain pipe and outlet that carry used sink water out of the camper sink. Some vintage camper layouts discharge through an open outlet rather than a grey-water tank, so the installed arrangement should be checked on the vehicle.

• camper
• water-system
• plumbing

Westfalia is a camper-conversion brand, not a Transporter generation. Gerry’s preserved FAQ describes Westfalia as one of several companies that converted VW Transporters and says it was generally the camper version imported and sold through Volkswagen dealers in the United States at that time. Roof, interior, and equipment depend on the specific vehicle and year.

• westfalia
• camper

An engine that circulates liquid coolant through passages and a radiator to carry heat away. Gerry’s Vanagon spark-plug reference lists DH water-cooled engines with Digijet for 1983–1985 and MV engines with Digifant for 1986–1991. Verify engine code, market, and model year; this archived table is an identification aid, not a complete application chart.

• engine
• water-cooled

In a Syncro drivetrain, a driveshaft decoupler disconnects the prop shaft so the front axle is no longer driven through it; it is not the front differential lock. A Gerry discussion on 16 May 2004 compares the original non-viscous-coupling layout, which used a driveshaft decoupler, with viscous-coupling Syncros while debating front-lock behavior. The thread is historical community discussion, not a retrofit procedure; identify the drivetrain configuration before interpreting parts or controls.

• vw
• syncro
• drivetrain