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Date:         Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:38:33 -0700
Reply-To:     Jim Cochran <mxsailor@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Cochran <mxsailor@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Santa Rosa area mechanic and smog shop
Comments: To: "Phil.C" <imapit@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <e50fd2f0810311520k48e124b7uf9aa1ab85b1af138@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Phil, I was replacing engines in my Westy because it kept burning holes in the head around the spark plug. On a lark, I called JR on the phone and he told me it was a bad ground strap. He was right. No more head replacements.

I, for one, do ALL my own work in Mexico because nobody here knows a thing about waterboxers. I've had Jocko up Ft Bragg do all my air-cooled buses because he knows them well.

Nobody takes care of their Westies like the owners, though.

Jim

On Oct 31, 2008, at 3:20 PM, Phil.C wrote:

> I have always heard that JR is a very good bet,and his shop is > always packed, but I guess I've been reluctant over the notion of > vanagon quirkiness. Yes, every vehicle has idiosyncrasies, but > vanagons are relatively scarce. Well, maybe not so scarce in this > region. Anyway, it was me, not the local mechanic, who finally found > the cracked solder joint in the ECU after 4.5 years of occasional > issues. > > FYI, John Nicols at the Unocal in town is a very reliable mechanic, > and I have always trusted him with my company rig and others. He's > good, but I still harbor this crazy notion of a vanagon mechanic. > Maybe I'm just a cheapskate, hoping for the perfect, most methodical > diagnosis that will result in the smallest bill. I guess that's one > reason we do it ourselves. > > Thanks for the input Jim. -Phil > > On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 10:42 AM, Jim Cochran <mxsailor@gmail.com> > wrote: > Take it to Junior. > I know he's expensive, but he really know his stuff. > > On Oct 31, 2008, at 10:19 AM, Phil.C wrote: > >> Thanks Jim. I'm up in Gualala, which is also 2 hours from Ukiah. - >> Phil >> >> On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 10:05 AM, Jim Cochran <mxsailor@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> Try the Harmony Garage in Cotati. >> Where do you live? >> >> Jim C >> 86 Westy "Vanilla" >> 71 Van >> San Carlos, Mexico >> >> >> On Oct 31, 2008, at 9:52 AM, Phil wrote: >> >> Vanagonians, I'm looking for mechanic recommendations in the Santa >> Rosa, CA >> area for my 87 westy. I have reviewed the list on RoadHaus and >> found only 1, >> with 1 review in 2006 -- a positive one for MB German. While 1 good >> shop is >> enough, I was just hoping to hear some confirmation or other recs. >> >> I do my own maintenance and light wrenching, and the van has been >> reliable >> and trouble-free in return, but it has a smog test in its future >> and I would >> like to have a more experienced expert at hand in the event of a no- >> pass. >> >> Speaking of emissions testing, I would also welcome any preferences >> for smog >> test shops in the Santa Rosa area. I'm 2 hours away on the coast, >> so my van >> has been exempt from testing over my 7 years of ownership. Thanks >> very much. >> -Phil >> >> > >


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