Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 06:47:17 -0500
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: The Otter Has (CRASH) Landed!
In-Reply-To: <710A115EF8EE4BFB945DA9677CD384DC@pat43d5bf70c66>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Pat, the estimate they gave you was very high. It sounds like less than
$1000 worth of parts and labor at a good non-dealer shop. Find someone
how specializes in VW or better yet Vans in your area. The shop that
you paid to have it inspected at owes you your money back and they
should have caught the ball joints, wheel bearings, and fuel lines.
Those are the three worst things and we are talking 5 hours of labor to
repair all of that. The rest you could do yourself. Probably have a
bad bulb or socket in one of the front turn signals causing the rapid
flashing. Get some electrical tape and tie wraps for the wiring, and
buy a couple of new bumper end caps which are only $15 each from us and
you are good to go. Inspection stations have to find things wrong. If
they didn't why would they need to exist? But they really didn't find
anything majorly wrong. Just gave you a really high ball park estimate.
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Pat Sloan wrote:
> Well Curses!!! We have these words for a reason, no?
>
>
>
> Yesterday, I picked up my beautiful 1982 Volkswagen. I had paid for it on
> Oct. 21 and turned it over to a highly recommended garage in Puyallup for a
> full inspection and repair of whatever needed fixing while I went with a
> friend to Wenatchee area for 10 days. They replaced the muffler and
> catalytic converter and a few light bulbs and pronounced her ready to roll.
> Took all day yesterday to drive it up to Vancouver and go through exporting
> it from the US and into CAN. I named her 'Otter' and was looking forward to
> eventual camping fun and maybe a Vanagon get-together.
>
>
>
> Today I went for the final step - Prov. of BC inspection prior to
> registering and insuring her. To my great surprise, she failed (!!!!) and
> (Gulp). Here's what needs fixing:
>
> 1. Turn signals and 4-way flashers are blinking too quickly. Wiring
> issue. A few hours work.
> 2. Left rear bumper missing corner. Allowing sharp edges to catch.
> 3. Fuel lines leaking fuel. Siliconed and held by electrical tape
> 4. Fuel filter not secured
> 5. Multiple stretches of loose wiring. Must be resecured.
> 6. Front wheel bearings have too much end play. Must be replaced.
> 7. Sway bar bushings are cracked - all 4.
> 8. Upper and lower ball joints all have split boots.
>
> I wasn't at a VW garage since, of course, this inspection was only going to
> be a formality. They estimated that the repairs needed would cost about
> $3000. They referred me to Justin at Capilano VW for a more informed
> opinion. I scanned the insp. report and sent it to him. Will hopefully find
> out tomorrow, but not in love with the idea of paying dealer prices for
> service.
>
>
>
> So, I thought I would send this info to the Vanagon list for your informed
> opinions.
>
>
>
> I feel sick. Can't afford to put thousands more into this vehicle. It's my
> own stupid fault for sure, but I had expected to hear this kind of thing
> from the Puyallup garage before I ever left the US. Now the van has turned
> into a pumpkin. No longer registered in WA or BC. Must be taken off the
> streets or it will be impounded. (Gotta find a spot!) Meanwhile trying to
> get enough facts to decide what to do.
>
>
>
> Also, must try to find out if I have any recourse from the seller or from
> Ebay. I know that used car sales are always asis, whereis, but this is
> selling an unsafe vehicle, which I think may be different. To think that I
> drove that sucker from Puyallup to Vancouver with leaky fuel lines, bad
> wheel bearings, cracked sway bar bushings and split ball joints.
>
>
>
> Any and all thoughts, ideas, interesting curses, etc would be welcome.
>
> Thank you and Grrrr,
>
> Pat
>
>
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