This post is dedicated to Bruce in Arizona who can’t get his Toyota dealer to fix his tailgate. For some reason he is unwilling to try his luck in South America. 
When Layne and I were young and traveled by sailboat we had a saying that relates to this week in Curitiba, because when we got something fixed on our boat we’d always add the proviso “… for now.”
What you see above is the body of a Fiat Ducato picked apart at the most astonishing wrecker’s yard I’ve ever seen. I needed a rubber gasket for the cabin air intake which fit some reason had been removed and thrown away by mechanics of most likely windshield installers in Brasilia. Using iOverlander search we came across a used van parts store which was a real bonanza and brought out the van life nerd in me. 
They of course went all nerdy over a gasoline powered Fiat Ducato that is never seen south of Mexico.
Much peering into the engine compartment.
But here it was we found what we needed, and so organized is this place they pulled the parts off the shelf. 
This container has Sprinter van parts from 1997- 2012 year models.
I got my parts, the original rubber gasket from a Fiat Ducato and a new used taillight I wasn’t even looking for. My own had deteriorated as moisture got in but I had given up hope of finding a replacement as new Fiat Ducatos use a different light pattern.
They ship all over Brazil. Their parts aren’t cheap but they are what you need if you need them.
We could have bought a South American diesel engine and transmission if we had wanted to.
But this was what I wanted. The employee came out unasked cane up to me and said “Would you like a new tail light?” while presenting me his offering. 
So that was a huge success. Next we went to their brand new parts store in search of filters. There we had less luck. They hunted high and low but could not find the air filter our engine uses as it is (STP11950) particular to Promasters built after 2018 as it has a closed end unlike any similar van. 
It is huge and I blow it out from time to time and wait for Layne to go back to the States to bring us one. Oh well. So for our oil filters and some radiator fluid off we went to the /Jeep/Ram/Fiat dealer. And stopped for lunch on the way. 
Ground beef and cheese pastel (Portuguese for empanada), huge and filling.
Then on to the dealer. 
It was as usual quick and easy to get my filters and fluid. I tell the parts guy I have a six cylinder 2020 Jeep Wrangler and out they pop.
If you complicate things you get bogged down. So I turn the Promaster into a jeep to make it easy. That is why the air filter and a few other parts are unavailable because they are proprietary to the van.
We’ve found RAM dealers to be everywhere and supplied with the bits we need.
Then we went back to the campground feeling pretty good. Of course all I was good for was a beer and some TV so no post on Friday. Boo hiss. Friday was Croc day in Curitiba. 
We left the So Trailers campground for the last time we hoped on Friday morning and drove to Sam’s Club for some essential supplies…
…and a rest for our hard traveled dog who gives me an excuse to traipse the aisles with Layne.
Guess which pair I chose and not it’s the psychedelic ones. I travel in low key color sobriety in South America. My last pair I purchased in coffee country of all places in Colombia. We were in Salento in 2024. I’ve never had Crocs last that long. My new brown ones with adjustable heel straps better do as well. 
A dude walked up in the parking lot and started doing Portuguese at me. It turned out he was excited by my van and asked if he could photograph this never before seen vehicle. No one ever yells at us. They always give thumbs up and smiles. 
Brazilians are the nicest South Americans. If I could learn Portuguese at my age I’d consider living here despite the baffling bureaucracy.
We talk about getting residence in Chile or Colombia but we don’t really see the point. As visitors we get three months, six in Brazil and up to a year in Uruguay ( our next country) I’m told. As tourists we live outside the bureaucracy that locals live with. We don’t need to buy a house or a car and pay local taxes. We don’t piss off our neighbors and if we do we just move on. Besides I still have a hankering to drive Alaska so we may head north in 2028 or so. Meanwhile we’ve got the van fixed for now and time to be tourists. 
Campground sign. “Don’t pee on the floor.” Does this really need to be said?
