Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 12:51:50 -0500
Reply-To: Katy <katya@NETINS.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Katy <katya@NETINS.NET>
Subject: Yikes! What went wrong??
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
List Members,
This 84 Westy van with under a 100,000 miles gets here from Florida,
seemed nice and clean. I only drove the thing for 100 miles to get it
home and it drove peppy and everything functioned well. Seemed to have
legitimate receipts for repair done, such as heads, gaskets, exhaust,
thermostat, water pump. All the necessary stuff I see mentioned on the
list all the time. (you all have taught me well) I even called the
mechanic in Florida that had done some work on it and he said it was OK.
Though I did have a few issues with the owner in Florida. In the
meantime, I get offered a deal I can't refuse on an 89 Westy that is an
automatic with air. So I basically just pass this one on to a couple of
really nice college girls to recoup the money I spent. (so I can get the
89 Westy) Really tried to help them out too. Also passed on all the
warnings I've learned from you guys about coolant and if the temp light
comes on, shut it down right away, etc., etc. etc. They take it home on
about a 5 hour drive and all is well for over a week.
I get an e-mail last night, saying they were driving it Sunday
afternoon and the warning light comes on and keeps blinking, (the
thought the light was broken that it couldn't be hot) but they just keep
driving it anyway for another 5 (or more) miles. When they finally did
stop and opened up the back, they said that steam and smoke was just all
over. They ended up having it towed to the VW shop to get it fixed.
WOW the mechanic is saying everything is bad on this thing. He said
something about the heads were pitted, blah, blah,blah AND he charges
$62.50 per hour labor. (the girls actually had it longer than I did and
drove more miles in it) How can this be??? I told the girls I would try
to help out and call him because this seemed insane. So I did and I
tried to tell him about the Bus Depot and Vanagain for better prices and
quality parts but didn't have much luck.
Could somebody from Minn please e-mail me. This mechanic does not have
internet access but he is on the "recommended list"
Thanks,
Katy
NE Iowa
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