Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 21:24:50 -0500
Reply-To: vw4x4 <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: vw4x4 <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Subject: Re: Fast German ruined my dash, now what?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
This is exactly why I do all my work myself. A simple solution this this, is to
pay by credit card. When you pointed out the problems as you did , and they
see what you are talking about, there is a very good change that you will
not have to pay the bill for the crappy work!
How knows what else they messed up!
Eric
Jeff Oxroad wrote:
> I had Fast German Auto in Santa Ana, CA put a clutch and pressure plate in my
> 83.5 Westy. The total was $325 with parts and labor which I paid in full via
> American Express.
>
> When I checked my bus the rear deck was greasy and the rear bed cushion was
> not reinstalled over the engine door. When I went into the cockpit for a rag
> to whipe down the back I found heavy grease smuges on the door. I considered
> neither of these a big issue. Evidence of sloppyness certainly, but maybe an
> oversight and forgivable at that. (I mention all this so you get an idea of
> the whole situation.)
>
> But now when I looked in the cockpit I saw the black face plate to the
> instrument pod--the one that housing the headlight and hazard switches and
> insturments-- was cracked in the area of the headlight switch. Also the black
> textured finish on the face plate of the instrument cluster had been eaten
> away by some chemical or solvent where there was evidence of a spill and a
> splash. In fact some of the solution was still wet where it had obviously
> splashed on the instrument face plate.
>
> I then noticed fluid on the rubber floor mat and on the steering column, and
> theorized it was brake fluid. I immediatly got the sales rep. who I had just
> paid and he got the mechanic to come out to my bus.
>
> The sales rep. asked if the mechanic had cracked the dash or spilled anything
> in the bus, and the mechanic replied something like, "No. We'd have no reason
> to be in here."
>
> I whiped up some of the fluid with my finger and noted it seemed to be brake
> fluid. The mechanic then "remembered" and said he had filled the resevoir but
> had not spilled any fluid. The fluid I saw, according to the mechanic, was
> Simple Green which they use for clean up. (Simple Green by the way is a mild
> soapy solution)
>
> The mechanic went on to say that brake fluid always spills when you fill up
> the resevoir because of where the resevoir is placed. This is another
> contradiction to earlier statements, first that he had not been in the
> cockpit and second that wehn in fact he was nothing spilled.
>
> Then,with the mechanic and sale rep present, I took of the cover from the
> instrument pod exposing the brake fluid resevoir. The underside of the
> instrument pod cover had spots of brake fluid where it had obviously spilled
> when the cover was off and most likely upside down on the floor or dash. And
> then I noticed fluid sitting inside the clear plastic over the
> speedo--meaning there was a pooling in the bottom of the speedo behind the
> glass where the fluid had obviously seeped. The small "shelf" under the
> speedo also had the finish removed where some solvent or the brake fluid had
> obviously spilled. And of course there was brake fluid around the resevoir in
> the recesses and the like.
>
> The instument pod by the way was brand new from the Bus Depot a few years
> ago--not a used unit, but brand new. At that time I had bought the new unit
> after rejecting several instrument pods I pulled from junk yards because the
> face plates and the clear plastic were scratched as a junk yard find is
> likely to be.
>
> I am meticulous about my bus and am 100% certain the instrument pod faceplate
> was not cracked and 100% certain the finish was not compromised and there was
> no fluid in the speedo or on the steering column or the floor mat. And as I
> mentioned the mechanic at first denied he was near the instrument cluster
> then denied a spill and then denied the crack--all in the presence of the
> sales rep.
>
> After the mechanic returned inside I spoke further with the sales rep who
> said there was nothing he could really do as he was "in the middle." To the
> best of my knowledge there was no one else from Fast German on the property.
> I had thought the sales rep was a manager in my dealings with him until he
> came up with the "in the middle" comment. The sales rep stated he would call
> me when they got a wreck with an instrument pod face plate and would have the
> mechanic swap my instruments into it. (Having installed the later model pod
> into my 83 I know it is not a simple swap depending on year. Also the old
> speedo, my original speedo is quite brittle as are some other components--but
> not the brand new face plate.)
>
> The shop is 50 miles from my home which makes the trip difficult and about 2
> hours long each way in LA traffic. Today I parked my other car at the train
> station in LA for $10, took the train to Santa Ana for $9.50, and walked 4
> miles to the shop from the train to pick up the bus as bothering another
> friend to put 100 miles on his car to drop me in Santa Ana seemed like a
> little much.
>
> Now I have to take out the instrument cluster and find exactly where the
> brake fluid went down in the dash and clean it up as it is a corrosive agent.
>
> I called Am EX and they said I would have to wait till the charge appeared on
> my statement to contest the $325 charge with no adjustment for damage. The Am
> Ex rep. Then tried to sell me travel insurance at $19.95 per trip by plane. I
> declined.
>
> I called a VW dealer and it seems a new face plate goes for $251. (I'd have
> to double check.)
>
> Needless to say I am not comfortable returning to Fast German Auto and having
> hammer hands reinstall my brittle speedo and components in a used, more than
> likely well-used, instrument pod face plate.
>
> I turn to you all in you wisdom and understanding of Vanagons to help me
> understand what would be a fair solution to my dilemma. And how I might
> proceed.
>
> I sure appreciate your time.
> TIA
>
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
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