If you like to work on your own vehicles instead of taking them to a mechanic, you need to have knowledge about basic auto parts. We aren't professionals either but we do know enough to make minor repairs on our vehicles. We've learned what we know by talking to mechanics and reading books on auto repair.
We've written this auto parts blog to give you basic information about various car parts and how they work. We'll also tell you the signs to look for when a part is going bad. We think that you'll find our blog helpful and informative whenever you need to fix your vehicle.
Getting Your Transporter Bus Ready For The Road Again After Being Parked For Years
If you have a parked VW bus that has been in the garage for years, it may be time for repairs to get it ready for the road again. You can start with just the essential repairs that need to be done and then continue with the rest of the restoration as you enjoy getting the most use out of your bus. The following Transporter repair and restoration information will help you get your bus on the road again.
Dealing with Bus Steering and Suspension Issues
The steering and suspension of your bus are where you may want to start with repairs. This is because buses have specially designed steering systems, and you will need to get the right parts to complete the repairs to these systems. Some of the suspension and steering parts you may need for your bus include:
- Return power steering hoses
- Power steering cooling system pipes and parts
- Axle guide arms
In addition to the steering and suspension systems, you will also need to restore the brake systems. If you are restoring your bus for daily driving, you may want to update your Transporter with modern antilock brake systems.
Minimal Restorations for Electronics and the Interior
There are also restorations that you may want to do to the interior of your bus. You want to start here with the essential repairs that need to be done. Therefore, you will want to replace things like dash displays and controls for the AC or automatic windows and doors if your model has these features. After the essential repairs are completed in the interior, you can continue with other restorations or adding custom features to your bus.
Essential Engine Repairs Before Driving Your Bus
The engine is an area where you are going to need to do extensive maintenance and repairs. You want to start by disassembling the engine's top-end to replace all the seals to ensure there are no oil leaks. You also want to check the oil pan for damage and replace it if needed. The engine parts that you want to replace when doing these extensive repairs include:
- Engine seals and gaskets
- Belts and rubber bushings
- Radiator hoses
- Injectors and spark plugs
- Oil pans
There may be other parts that wear out and also need to be replaced when doing these repairs. You also want to replace things like wires with dry insulation and any other rubber hoses or lines that are worn out. Replacing these parts now will help you avoid issues when you start driving your bus again.
Crucial Auto Body Repairs for Your Bus Before Driving It
The body of your bus is another area where there are crucial repairs that need to be done. First, you want to deal with any problems with corrosion and rust to stop decay. When you are repairing the auto body parts, there may be some issues with panels and sections like fenders that need to be replaced. If you need small parts like light housings and bumpers, these are parts that you can get from a specialized parts service.
These are some things that are going to need to be done to get your bus ready for the road again. Contact a VW Transporter parts service to get what you need to get your bus back on the road.