It's a total blessing to be able to share this adventure with you guys thanks so much for joining us! See you next week for the season finale! ✌ ► *NEXT EPISODE // DRIVING AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:* ruclips.net/video/VzdJFuDl3eU/видео.html
I'm dyin ... best episode ever .. can we get a GIF loop of Alaska licking the cheese bowl, after you sort out the Kombi issues of course. Hope you got it sorted by now.
The way you guys stay calm and collected through every hurdle and every situation that comes your way with the Kombi breaking down and getting stuck in different countries your patience is really inspiring to me I love you guys.
@@Kicsifixed Actually had an old 62 VW bug I bought in 76. It wouldn't hold much of a charge with that 6 volt battery, so I had to compression start it many times, by parking it on a hill.
I used to push-start my Volkswagens daily back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. You learn to adapt. Seems like you need either a starter or a solenoid. The cooking and climbing segments were epic. I was solo free climbing back in ‘72 - ‘74 without instruction, making it up as I went along. The joy and the exhilaration were intoxicating. Go For It
Croatia is your place. Only issue is from 1st december you need a test to come in. Here in the south is 14 degrees right now. No movement restriction, no mask outside. Im with the van here 3 weeks already without problems.
A new starter is a 10 minute job, seems a lot easier than all that mess. I've had them completely rebuilt in some of the most remote parts of the world where locals know how to keep old cars running.
Not saying this is your problem, but could contribute to it. Has been a lot of bus owners in past: add a relay to the starter. That way full voltage isn't wasted going all the way to the ignition switch and back. Instead just a small amount is sent to trigger relay switch near starter and battery. KEEP ON TRUCKING
Having this same blasted electrical problems in my 77 2Ltr twin carb Kombi. Changed the ignition switch and still have an issue with the solenoid, bastard of a thing. But still love my 'Basil the wild boar', after 22 years driving around a lot of Australia.
Same for me...1st time to Europe I was more excited for the UK, France and Germany but turned out Italy was the one that kept my heart. All the countries were wonderful but Italy took first place for me. Will be thinking of you until next time, hope you found a great place to land for the winter, looks like this round is going to persist for some time.
Starter Wireing : The starter draws requires a direct line from the battery. It draws a lot of current.. The ignition key switch corrodes and fails. It is also to far from the starter and loses voltage in the long wiring needed to run a line from the battery then back to the starter. Use a separate starter switch from an automotive store. That is hooked up to and triggers a relay switch near the starter. The starter then is wired with THICK wire from the battery to the relay then to the starter solenoid. This gives the starter maximum voltage and current it needs.
Ben, once you have located a new starter, you should try rebuilding your old starter. Usually its just corrosion buildup. Having that experience, will help you out later.
Always an interesting video. You might add a "hard start" relay to fix that starter problem. It takes the current load off of the start switch. Stay safe. Cheers from Tennessee. R.
When you get back to Jersey or wherever you winter this year, watch Free Solo. Love to Alaska and to you both. Yes, Italy is beautiful. Maybe one day I will get back... maybe 🌞
I have a van, but my country prohibited us to leave our own municipalities. Even if I wanted to go somewhere remote I can't unfortunately. So vanlife is not really an option right now. Well with the outside temperatures right now it would also be a bit uncomfortable without a heater. Stay strong and greetings from Slovenia.
Love to see the update! Im still in France but lockdown is likely going to be relaxed in a bit more then a week and then ill be back on the road again! Im heading to Spain. Good luck to you guys!
Bumming around Europe is not staying safe..staying safe is staying put....I live in Portugal and it´s strict for us cant move from council area to another at weekends cant cross border into Spain without a test cert...my kids live in NZ and AUS no chance for them to visit anytime soon...why cant people not understand the implications of non essential travel...
@@Mikefngarage Its a 40 year old switch so i wouldn't be surprised. I'd just take it apart and clean up the contacts inside. I had to do that to mine a couple years ago, so far so good, but theres always the screw driver!
That was a cool one, did he make taramiso coffee cake? With whip eggs and whip cream? Or that was his version. We didn't get to see the middle of the whip cake.
Okay. Here's what's going on with your starter; NOTHING. IT'S FINE. The fact that you can jump start it direct by connecting the ignition wire to the the starter main selenoid's positive-- and that it works everty time, That tell me it's fine. On an old volks like this, it's pretty much always the ignition wire that looks fine from the outside, but just won't let electricity go through by enough margin. basically, the ignition wire is fried, by sheer time. Oftenly though, not the entire wire is toasted and it's mostly the section that's closer to the starter, say a meter or so. Battery disconnected, skin the small, positive ignition wire that's on the starter's selenoid, you'll be fixed fast enough; If it's brittle, flaky, you have your answer. You need to replace the wire as long as it's damaged and it will start every time again. What It could also be, unrelate to that wire, is the ignition key box (the part where you insert the ignition key) But man, I highly suspect the wire, start by eliminating that, odds are very high and beside, basically a free fix. The whole electrical harnest should eventually be inspected IMHO. I pushed my WV vans which ALL had new starters for awhile, too. Good luck
Our city is on volunteer lockdown and travel restrictions within our Province....our Leaders have it all handled well....we have 88 active cases in Nova Scotia...mainly in HRM area, and about 1 hr outside of downtown Halifax. Stay safe guys...really enjoy your videos....was in Europe 1999 :)
Nice video! Italy looks to be awesome also away from tourism areas... Have to go one day... About the van I ask myself what kind of starting motor it was installed... Doesn't make sense to me to be broken so early, to be honest. Don't know the mileage since new... 🤔
I'm really really glad you did go see my part of Italy and because I live in Australia fish and chips, with our flake is THE BEST fish and chips in the world lol
As soon as you started using the hammer on the starter motor the diagnosis should have been the starter has a bad segment which you can jar it off to start. Now it's packed up you need a now starter motor or get the old one re-wound. Should be easy in Europe where the VW is easy to get spares.
Hi ! ...with been following your story for quite a time now...really enjoy! We do have a blue combi newly restored...I was thinking : for any mechanical problem there's an app called : SAVE MY TRIP and with it you can locate any specialised VW garage anywhere in Europe TRY IT ...see you
Like many travel/adventure vloggers, they generally record well in advance. Sometimes it’s up a few months. Sometimes it’s a few weeks. That’s why in between seasons they’ll go a month or two without videos.
this year in 2020 - we caught up to real time for quite a few episodes (it's not healthy to do that and nobody should be encouraged to maintain that) - this one was filmed a few weeks back about 3 days before Sh1t hit the fan in Europe.
Travel extraordinaries. Hello. Great video. Soon the adventure far will begin but am sure you've enjoyed the opportunities this unfortunate era has given. We still exist and have a chance to wake somewhere new. Enjoy the time back in Jersey. Soon the other side of the world you will be. Well hopefully not to soon. Need some more travel moments first!
We’re new to the van life community! We launched our RUclips today. We would love any feedback you can offer on our first video. You guys are an inspiration, and played a vital part in the electrical part of our build, thank you.
It's a total blessing to be able to share this adventure with you guys thanks so much for joining us!
See you next week for the season finale! ✌
► *NEXT EPISODE // DRIVING AROUND THE WORLD SERIES:* ruclips.net/video/VzdJFuDl3eU/видео.html
In turkey there is only weekend lockdowns and foreigners are freely travelling all times. Good luck wherever you are heading to...
Never give up. Always find the way onwards and upwards. It's there! 😊😇
I'm dyin ... best episode ever .. can we get a GIF loop of Alaska licking the cheese bowl, after you sort out the Kombi issues of course. Hope you got it sorted by now.
The way you guys stay calm and collected through every hurdle and every situation that comes your way with the Kombi breaking down and getting stuck in different countries your patience is really inspiring to me I love you guys.
Having to push the kombi to start it , reminds me of the movie, "Little Miss Sunshine".
That's because you never had an old volkswagen. Otherwise you would not be reminded of anything as this is daily life :D
@@Kicsifixed Actually had an old 62 VW bug I bought in 76. It wouldn't hold much of a charge with that 6 volt battery, so I had to compression start it many times, by parking it on a hill.
you haven't lived until you have pushed started a Kombi by yourself. At least Ben has Leah and vice versa to share in the joy of it all
I guess it is better than the guy with a crank start. ha ha. that engine in there would be hard to start with that.
I used to push-start my Volkswagens daily back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. You learn to adapt.
Seems like you need either a starter or a solenoid.
The cooking and climbing segments were epic.
I was solo free climbing back in ‘72 - ‘74 without instruction, making it up as I went along. The joy and the exhilaration were intoxicating.
Go For It
From Milan to Sicily, Italy is paradise. From the food, people, & history: it's a very special.
Leah, como el buen vino, cada dia que pasa...mejor.
Leah, like good wine, every day that passes ... better.
Love listening to your beautiful voices telling us your journey. ❤❤❤
Thank you so much!
Croatia is your place. Only issue is from 1st december you need a test to come in. Here in the south is 14 degrees right now. No movement restriction, no mask outside. Im with the van here 3 weeks already without problems.
Great timing, just signed in and this went live! Sitting back and enjoying the video now !
we were waiting for you to be ready 😉
A new starter is a 10 minute job, seems a lot easier than all that mess. I've had them completely rebuilt in some of the most remote parts of the world where locals know how to keep old cars running.
yeah - it's the solenoid, we'll get into that next week. All this happened in a very short time frame, with very little time to seek out parts.
@@KombiLife You can also short the pos-neg with a insulated screwdriver.
Not saying this is your problem, but could contribute to it. Has been a lot of bus owners in past: add a relay to the starter. That way full voltage isn't wasted going all the way to the ignition switch and back. Instead just a small amount is sent to trigger relay switch near starter and battery. KEEP ON TRUCKING
Having this same blasted electrical problems in my 77 2Ltr twin carb Kombi. Changed the ignition switch and still have an issue with the solenoid, bastard of a thing. But still love my 'Basil the wild boar', after 22 years driving around a lot of Australia.
Same for me...1st time to Europe I was more excited for the UK, France and Germany but turned out Italy was the one that kept my heart. All the countries were wonderful but Italy took first place for me. Will be thinking of you until next time, hope you found a great place to land for the winter, looks like this round is going to persist for some time.
we think you are right, stay safe aunty
How do you not have millions of subscribers?
Starter Wireing : The starter draws requires a direct line from the battery. It draws a lot of current.. The ignition key switch corrodes and fails. It is also to far from the starter and loses voltage in the long wiring needed to run a line from the battery then back to the starter. Use a separate starter switch from an automotive store. That is hooked up to and triggers a relay switch near the starter. The starter then is wired with THICK wire from the battery to the relay then to the starter solenoid. This gives the starter maximum voltage and current it needs.
I remember Riccardo from the meet-up! Great guy & cool to see him in this episode. Love the hammer trick 🔨
yeah! so happy you got to meet Riccardo too 🥰
Hey guys just wanted to let you know that your videos always brighten my day! Thank you for always showing us something new and beautiful every video!
Cheers Josh, it's a pleasure to have you with us.
Shout out to Riccardo! What a great host, guide, and friend!
I guess that engine is holding up well from CB performance.
Ben, once you have located a new starter, you should try rebuilding your old starter. Usually its just corrosion buildup. Having that experience, will help you out later.
Always an interesting video. You might add a "hard start" relay to fix that starter problem. It takes the current load off of the start switch. Stay safe. Cheers from Tennessee. R.
Man. This was worth the long wait.
happy to hear you enjoyed it Corey, thanks for watching
Going to stick it out WOOFing in Spain for WInter. Good luck on your travels back to the rock. Peace!
Love you content and cinematography. Lots to learn. Thanks for sharing.
Early viewer. Love these guys so much. Alaska is my favorite RUclips Dog!! ❤️❤️❤️
🐕🐾 Cheers Shane
I think you could visit italy 100 times and still find scenes that leave you speechless
When you get back to Jersey or wherever you winter this year, watch Free Solo. Love to Alaska and to you both. Yes, Italy is beautiful. Maybe one day I will get back... maybe 🌞
I have a van, but my country prohibited us to leave our own municipalities. Even if I wanted to go somewhere remote I can't unfortunately. So vanlife is not really an option right now. Well with the outside temperatures right now it would also be a bit uncomfortable without a heater. Stay strong and greetings from Slovenia.
get a heater - kombilife.com/campervan-heating-options-van-life/
Merry Christmas to you guys and a blessed new year 🥰
Your videos are awesome!!!!!!! I hope you can get your van fixed soon. Stay safe.
Cheers mate
Who's the strong and handsome Italian?
That would be you Riccardo 😄
@@aprosdoketon-i9n Grazie! :)
@@KombiLife Leah you look so happy at 21:38 of having to push the van. My trick is definitely less tiring, especially if Ben goes under :)
Alaska! If she ever needs a home, put me in line! Love her!!!
😁 we'll let you know!
Whoulda thunk getting through Europe would be harder than the Darien Gap?
ha ha - I know right 😂
16:36 Goes inside his van. Hey, "There's a sheet on my bed"!
ah you get it! 😉
It worries me when your van doesn't start. Good vibes coming your way. 🙏🏾
I really liked the Omaze plug you put in. Those campers are awesome.👍
Love to see the update! Im still in France but lockdown is likely going to be relaxed in a bit more then a week and then ill be back on the road again! Im heading to Spain.
Good luck to you guys!
nice! See if you can get to Andalusia, such a great spot for Van Life - happy travels
Get a new starter solenoid and /or a new set of carbon brushes!
Such a bummer about your van but hopefully you guys are staying safe!
Struggles of van life for sure haha
We are Jake, hope you are too! Thanks for watching
Bumming around Europe is not staying safe..staying safe is staying put....I live in Portugal and it´s strict for us cant move from council area to another at weekends cant cross border into Spain without a test cert...my kids live in NZ and AUS no chance for them to visit anytime soon...why cant people not understand the implications of non essential travel...
Perfect! very amazing video
Quite familiar with the north of Italy. But you manage to make us discover the lesser known parts. Simply love your Italian episodes. Awesome!
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it.
Starting issues? In a kombi? How odd.
I believe the switches were bad on those. like the bugs.
@@Mikefngarage Its a 40 year old switch so i wouldn't be surprised. I'd just take it apart and clean up the contacts inside. I had to do that to mine a couple years ago, so far so good, but theres always the screw driver!
@@mikescudder4621 yea might be better than one of those new crap china ones. the vw QC in chins does not exist.
Wonderful adventures. Thank you!
Thank YOU James for making this episode happen #KombiCrew 🥰
Its nice to see the countryside is clean.
I found the cities full of thieves ,scammers and litterbugs.
Love to see you guys here in milan when you go back in italy👍🏼
15:00 accessible to all, Alaska appears ! Truly a brilliant moment ! 🙌😂
That was a cool one, did he make taramiso coffee cake? With whip eggs and whip cream? Or that was his version. We didn't get to see the middle of the whip cake.
The taramiso coffee cake we get here taste like a phil cream pie with coffee swirl layer in it and it is eaten cold
you guys were hilarious when the fork subjet was on the table!!!
Happy holidays
Okay. Here's what's going on with your starter; NOTHING. IT'S FINE. The fact that you can jump start it direct by connecting the ignition wire to the the starter main selenoid's positive-- and that it works everty time, That tell me it's fine. On an old volks like this, it's pretty much always the ignition wire that looks fine from the outside, but just won't let electricity go through by enough margin. basically, the ignition wire is fried, by sheer time. Oftenly though, not the entire wire is toasted and it's mostly the section that's closer to the starter, say a meter or so. Battery disconnected, skin the small, positive ignition wire that's on the starter's selenoid, you'll be fixed fast enough; If it's brittle, flaky, you have your answer. You need to replace the wire as long as it's damaged and it will start every time again.
What It could also be, unrelate to that wire, is the ignition key box (the part where you insert the ignition key) But man, I highly suspect the wire, start by eliminating that, odds are very high and beside, basically a free fix. The whole electrical harnest should eventually be inspected IMHO.
I pushed my WV vans which ALL had new starters for awhile, too. Good luck
I love you guys!, your dog!!, and your VW van!!!😁✌
Italy looks amazing of course, and Ricardo is awesome. The "picture travel book" is a great idea, I am looking for something similar
✈ The Universal Dictionary (so much fun) - amzn.to/3lSGLWV
what part are you y'all hitting with the hammer? I feel left out
just anything that sounds good really 😂
Don’t those VW’s have a rope start, like a lawnmower engine?
that would be handy
Saw you guys pushing the van made me a worried wort.hope everything is ok.
Beautiful Italy . Many fanx guys
:-D
HI guys another awesome video - wow Italy looks amazing. Hope you are keeping safe. - sending virtual hugs - Marianne and Chris xx
Gasoline/petrol is ridiculously expensive in Europe compared to the US. I see why road tripping across the Americas is so appealing.
Our city is on volunteer lockdown and travel restrictions within our Province....our Leaders have it all handled well....we have 88 active cases in Nova Scotia...mainly in HRM area, and about 1 hr outside of downtown Halifax.
Stay safe guys...really enjoy your videos....was in Europe 1999 :)
Thanks for watching Lori, stay safe!
It seems like Alaska enjoys climbing as well 14:57
can't leave this dog behind on an adventure!
It wouldn't be Kombi Life without at least one breakdown.
Nice video! Italy looks to be awesome also away from tourism areas... Have to go one day... About the van I ask myself what kind of starting motor it was installed... Doesn't make sense to me to be broken so early, to be honest. Don't know the mileage since new... 🤔
turns out it is the original starter motor from the 70s 😯
nightmre its never ending these restrictions
How’s the eye?
not as good as it should be 🤔
Absolutely nobody:
Ben: YOU BETTER NOT FORK ON MY TABLE!
Very nice episode, and what a relaxing guy that Italian...
Keep safe guys, merry Christmas from down under in Brisbane
Starting the van with a hammer 🔨🤣. So funny 😀.
looks like you need to replace the starter, may want to get on that fast.
on it!
I'm really really glad you did go see my part of Italy and because I live in Australia fish and chips, with our flake is THE BEST fish and chips in the world lol
Ha ha. We will see
Flake is shark for non Australians reading this. Very popular in fish and chip shops here because it tastes great and no danger of bones in it.
Terrific entertaining vid. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Just discovered one of the best things about this channel. Alaska...cool pooch ..
definitely the star of the show
Awesome vlog👌love La Spezia 🤗
Thank you 😊
U guys should go to switzerland we won't go into lockdown 2.0
U Guys have been doing "lockdown" every winter for centuries
Does ricardo have a RUclips channel as well?
As soon as you started using the hammer on the starter motor the diagnosis should have been the starter has a bad segment which you can jar it off to start. Now it's packed up you need a now starter motor or get the old one re-wound. Should be easy in Europe where the VW is easy to get spares.
How can I donate?
Hang in there Guys , Stay Healthy and Safe 💕🐾🚐👍
You guys make a good couple. If you have problems with that engine just call Pat he can help you figure out what’s wrong. ❤️👍🏼🤙🏼
Start checking your terminals and get a voltage meter
Didn’t the “Wild Thornberry’s” drive a KOMBI for the entire show back in the day?
loved that show haha
Hi ! ...with been following your story for quite a time now...really enjoy! We do have a blue combi newly restored...I was thinking : for any mechanical problem there's an app called : SAVE MY TRIP and with it you can locate any specialised VW garage anywhere in Europe
TRY IT ...see you
Sounds great!
awwwww i miss italy
THANK YOU! Keep the Goat Dog away from the rocks - you scaring me.
ha ha - goat dog
I got a question: is kombi life pre recorded or do you record every week and edit it and upload?
Like many travel/adventure vloggers, they generally record well in advance. Sometimes it’s up a few months. Sometimes it’s a few weeks. That’s why in between seasons they’ll go a month or two without videos.
@@JesusFriedChrist ok thank you
this year in 2020 - we caught up to real time for quite a few episodes (it's not healthy to do that and nobody should be encouraged to maintain that) - this one was filmed a few weeks back about 3 days before Sh1t hit the fan in Europe.
Good luck getting home you three :)
Fingers crossed!
❤❤❤
Travel extraordinaries. Hello. Great video. Soon the adventure far will begin but am sure you've enjoyed the opportunities this unfortunate era has given. We still exist and have a chance to wake somewhere new. Enjoy the time back in Jersey. Soon the other side of the world you will be. Well hopefully not to soon. Need some more travel moments first!
Thank you! 😃
Most enjoyable... 👍🏻🙂
Glad you enjoyed it
Riccardo:
Wears Sea Shepherd shirt
Eats seafood 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Italy is the best though.
I know right...Italian food is sooo good and also I guess mussels and anchovies are a little less endangered than whales.
Cool
Stay safe fam
I’m definitely going to try that tiramisu recipe.
Hope you like it!
"That" tiramisù recipe? It's the tiramisù recipe!
Cool VW...new sub for you.
Calabria poor but extremely sweet and affordable unassuming and delicious food.
I love your Dog
Comments after watching the video make the algorithm go crazyyyyyyyyyy!!
thanks mate
0:14 - smashing :(
Hello,
So.. no spare starter motor..no wheel chocks..no night heater..no toilet..
Kombi life not easy life..
We’re new to the van life community! We launched our RUclips today. We would love any feedback you can offer on our first video. You guys are an inspiration, and played a vital part in the electrical part of our build, thank you.
P.S., it’s me, Holly