Date:         Mon, 17 Jul 2000 23:23:21 -0400
Reply-To:     John Lauterbach <jhlauterbach@email.msn.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Lauterbach <jhlauterbach@email.msn.com>
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Subject:      What is fair price for water pump job

Recently, I had the water pump replaced on my '84 with 1.9L engine and A/C.
Old water pump was about two years old and I had just had all the coolant
hoses replaced a month earlier.  I supplied the new pump, gaskets, etc.,
along with 2 gallons of coolant.  I thought the bill ($263) was too steep.
So I have some questions.  What is a fair price (or time in hours) for
changing out a water pump?  What is fair price (or time in hours) for
refilling and bleeding the cooling system?  How much should the bill be
discounted, if any, for overfilling the crankcase (had to take oil filler
tube off to change water pump)?  How much should bill be discounted, if any,
for underfilling cooling system by at least 3 quarts?

Shop I go to recently changed hands along with most of the management.  I
would appreciate advice from those who repair Vanagons for a living so that
I can speak authoritatively with the new management.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA