I definitely agree with Loren on the value of a good vanagon mechanic, and am very lucky to have found one fairly close to home, thanks to this state by state listing of VW mechanics <http://www.roadhaus.com/shops.php>. I had just had my radiator replaced by a German car mechanic at a location that was very convenient for me, but after more than 2 months and at least 6 trips back, my water temperature light kept going on. This mechanic was very willing to fix the problem, but he didn't succeed. I then took it to a guy named Bela in Burbank, CA, and he quickly diagnosed the problem: a cracked lid on the reservoir! (The other mechanic actually SAW the tiny crack in the lid, but didn't think it could be causing so much trouble!) After Bela replaced the lid, (and charged me very fairly,) my husband and I went on a 600 mile trip without any problems at all!

Now, after rereading that list of mechanics, I noticed that there are several excellent Westy mechanics fairly close to where I live, which is a big relief in case for some reason Bela isn't available! Patti North Hollywood, CA 90 Westy Automatic ************************************ On Sat, Oct 11, 2008 at 8:37 AM, Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca> wrote:

> Hi Loren, > > I agree 100% with both of your main points. I just felt obliged to > respond to the campout maintenance comment since I attend a lot of > campouts and also run TCWBC and BOTC. > > I do as much work as possible on my own vans, and I try to do as much as > possible BEFORE a road-trip. I have a local shop that is > Vanagon-friendly and Frank Condelli is not nearly so local but has a > well-seasoned ear that I can lean on when I need it. > > My local shop (Nick's Auto Clinic in SW Scarborough) is excellent. Sure, > Nick can be a bit crusty at times, usually when he thinks you've caused > the problem by trying to rethink or patch up the original system instead > of repairing it properly. A lot of the time he's right. I send my bus > and vanagon there when it's a repair I don't have tools for, don't have > time for or just can't handle it. (Ie, water pump repair in February). > My parents do the same with their vanagons. > > It is a nice thing to have a vanagon mechanic available when you need > one. Even with this list, I still need some extra help from time to time. > > > Happy Trails, > > Greg Potts > 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato" > 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop > www.busesofthecorn.com > www.pottsfamily.ca > > > Loren Busch wrote: > >> Got to jump back in on this thread I started and that seems to have >> drifted >> a bit. >> First, I read the comment about 'so bring your Vanagon to a VW event for >> repair' as a tongue in cheek comment and not meant seriously. Second I >> had >> two points to make in the original post: The value of a top mechanic that >> really know the vehicle and the fact that many problems (and I mean many) >> that occur in older vehicles like ours are really very simple but the >> tendency is to assume major problems and start replacing parts, sometimes >> expensive parts, and hope the problem will go away. Loooking back at my >> original message I don't think I emphasized that second point very well. >> Now back to the regularly scheduled programing.... >> >> > > -- >