Date:         Thu, 7 Mar 2002 18:05:53 -0800
Reply-To:     developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Subject:      Oil pump replacement
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Today I hired my local VW dealeer to replace my oil pump to cure a leak.
While waiting for the job to be done I was very entertained by the list
postings today especially those who could not wait until Friday. LOL often
today.

After struggling with trying to tighten my oil pump nuts and found it still
leaking I took my van into the local VW dealer for replacement of the
gaskets.

Talking with my favorite vanagon mechanic who recommended replacing the pump
housing, cover plate and locking nuts in order to assure a guaranteed job I
decided to go for it as parts were about $60. A farther away place would
have done the job for about $60 less but the $10 in gasoline to get there &
back twice plus a friend to drive me there twice (and his gas costs) plus
the time there and back made the local choice convenient and about the same
cost in the fianal analysis.

While apart we found one gasket cracked and also discovered a leak from the
crank shaft seal so for another $100 parts an labor I did that reapir also.
Total job cost me $380. Worth every penny for a guaranteed job.

I looked at the repair in progress and could never have done it without the
proper tools and know how. (Well I could have learned, and managed but for a
mere $380 why bother?)

Now for a new clutch which I plan to do at Volks Cafe in Santa Cruz on a
trip to Northern California in May. Volks Cafe will cost me about $150 less
than my local dealer, so why not defer the repair until then?

William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE