Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 21:04:29 EST
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Fast German ruined my dash, now what?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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