Date:         Sat, 22 May 2004 22:40:02 EDT
Reply-To:     Jackandhank@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         MO Jack '86 Westy <Jackandhank@AOL.COM>
Subject:      86 Van Clutch Prob? + Shop Kudos (semi-long)
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So we're 2000 miles from home, in stop and go traffic in an area of Long
Beach I would rather not stop in, and suddenly, I can't get the shift lever out of
neutral without using both arms. After I get it in gear and push in the
clutch, the ('86 Westy) vehicle either stalls or creeps. Sometimes the only gear I
can get it into is 3rd, so I slip the clutch and start in 3rd. Being in
Southern California, at any time there is a (can I say?) VW in view (you people
there are sooo lucky), so I ask a very helpful young lady next to me at a light in
a Vanagon to roll down her window, and I ask her if she can tell me who her
favorite WV (that's what I'll use! - it looks right, but it's not) mechanic is.
She has only had the van a year, but has already had the engine rebuilt, but
wouldn't recommend the shop she used, but did say she talked to someone who
seemed to know what he was talking about. She did not choose him because of the
high cost, but she ended up spending that much in the end. The condition (any
bets?)  actually cleared up, so I didn't strain anything (on me). We went to
the recommended shop, left it there, and nervously investigated Hermosa Beach
for a few hours. Great beach town - ate lunch at a tremendous crepe restaurant.
Get the call, go back to the shop. Could have been clutch master or slave
problem, altho' I had looked in the dash and found the level fine, and they were
both dry, but the diagnosis was (Ta-Daaah) pilot bearing on its last leg(s?).
Recommendation: The clutch has a lot of miles on it anyway, and if clutching
is kept to a minimum, we may make it back to mid-Missouri. We did, and the
diagnosis was correct. Okay, how many shops would have gone ahead and charged the
$65 diagnosis fee I signed up for? Not

BUGGE BUILDERS at 825 Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Said all he did was rack it and listen. Yes, but I know that many shops would
not bat an eye about nailing me for some $$. Thank you, thank you, Bugge
Builders. Besides which, he took the time to explain what the pilot bearing does,
and why he thought that was the culprit. Didn't act like he knew something he
would really not let me know, and had an awesome collection of die cast "dream
cars". And gave an excellent lodging recommendation, Hotel Hermosa, at the
top of a hill with an awesome beach view and about 60 bucks. Always nice to be
able to recommend a shop.