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Date:         Thu, 16 Jan 2003 05:52:37 -0800
Reply-To:     fortinoj@SPEAKEASY.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joseph Fortino <fortinoj@SPEAKEASY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Fast German will fix the broken rebuild
Comments: To: zampano <matthias.k@ATTBI.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain

I still kinda don't know what type of coolent you put in? and were the heads AMC? compression will be bad if the seal is weak I feel. but if a head gasket goes you have to re-open the lower half. * water jacket near the head will build up all kinds of crap allow the acid demons to take over.

Joe

On 15 Jan 2003, zampano wrote:

> (this was the subject line: rebuilder blames > coolant for failure under warranty or subject > line: Fast German Auto etc) > > Hello everybody, > > I just got back from Santa Ana, spending a > good 4 1/2 hours on driving down there in > traffic and in arguing. > > It was dreadful. I got there and asked about > what they decided to do about my '84 WBX > Wolfy. We agreed last week that they were > going to call me that same day (Wed last week, > and they never called). The sales rep (or > service writer or whatnot) said that he would > just be a minute, and then disappeared and > reappeared intermittently, and after about one > hour of me standing around and talking to > their master tech, chit chatting about > Vanagons etc., (he's actually a nice guy, > don't think he means any harm, but not very > knowledgable about V-gons compared to us > geeks. I know he has been there at least since > last April.) > > After that long wait the sales rep (who told > me he was part owner of the company, which is > a corporation, after I asked him twice) came > back out and presented me with an estimate: > $1598.00. Disappears again, appearing at > intervals talking on the phone or otherwise > looking busy. I keep on chatting with the > tech, not giving any clue of being infuriated. > > After another long time (30-45 min) he > reappears and says: So I guess we'll get > started on your van right away, then. I > asked to talk to him in private, in his > office. He wouldn't respond. I asked him > again, and then again. (the tech was still > present, and I didn't want to accuse anybody > of being a liar to their face, always ends > nasty). The sales rep answered that there > was nothing to talk about. > > I stayed calm, told him that it was nothing > personal, but that this was unacceptable to > me. They give out a warranty with their > engines, and have to honor it, I told him. A > dragging argument ensued, for almost half > hour, at least. With the master tech and him > telling me that the wrong coolant was used and > therefore no warranty. In their warranty > requirements it doesn't say anything about > specifically using VW coolant only, I told > him. He answered that it was recommended by VW > in the owner's manual. I told him that I heard > from people on the list who had their engines > rebuilt and installed at their place and they > had green coolant in it, that they (FGA) put > in. They both called it a bunch of lies. > Blabla, the argument went on. I finally said > that I was willing to pay $1000 to get it done > if they give me another 12mo/12000mi warranty. > Mind you I installed the engine myself, then, > and hence the installation was not covered > under warranty <-big smile here. Makes sense > from their point of view, I guess. > > They refused, they said they were already > giving me a break and that $1000 was out of > the question. On it went another while until I > finally told him I was going to take him to > small claims court, I told him that I knew of > other people who were dissatisfied with their > work(listmembers). He said he didn't care and > that for every 2 customers he gets 1 > complaining. Looks like he confused the > numbers a bit. > > So I left. The whole time everybody stayed > calm, but it was nasty anyway. > > On my way up he calls me 1 hour later and > tells me he could do it for $1100, > sounding pissed off. Including another > warranty. Ok I said. > > The nerve!!! I just figured I'd get it > resolved, rather than wasting energy going to > court, which always is a loooot of energy, > believe me. > > So I guess we found a solution, but what it > all took!! > > They also showed me the water pump, and it was > also completely corroded. The heads were as > well insanely corroded. > > Maybe it isn't their fault, maybe it is the > WBX design. Everybody can and should be > allowed to make mistakes. But that corrosion > looked like nothing I have ever seen, and I > replaced the water pump twice before the > rebuild. But why would I get 0 compression?? > There's still a big mystery factor involved, > which makes me dream of Toyotas. The tech also > showed me the sealant they always used: The > stuff that comes with the kit. I think I read > somewhere that was a no no. > > Anyhow, thanks so much to all you who gave me > input, it gave me a lot of courage and the > willpower to persist and argue. Seems like you > really have to put up a stink and waste some > serious time. I'll find out if it was worth > it, should be getting her back in about 1 > week's time. > > Happy Trails > > Matt


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