Date: Sat, 1 May 2010 15:49:48 -0500
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: The coninuing distributer saga - LOOONG
In-Reply-To: <009501cae966$ecdec980$c69c5c80$@net>
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I agree with your logic. But if the mechanic was quoting from a rate book and removing the fuel rail is one of the steps in the book then that's likely what he will do.
But you are a home mechanic and often home mechanics find shortcuts. Sometimes these shortcuts are for the good and sometimes not.
Tom
www.stir-plate.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of B Feddish
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 2:46 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: The coninuing distributer saga - LOOONG
Nope, you don’t have to remove the fuel injection parts to remove the distributer on my 1.9. Taking off the pressure sensor would make it easier but you can squeeze it out without doing that.
So what I am saying is he should have replaced the distributer, which is what I originally brought it in for, then checked to see if that solved the problem. I just think doing 3 things at once that are unrelated was kinda daring.
Thanks,
Bryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Tom Hargrave
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 1:33 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: The coninuing distributer saga - LOOONG
Loren,
I was speaking specifically to the fact that he stated he would have to remove some of the FI parts to replace the distributor.
If he had done each task separately then he would have to pull the FI parts, swap the distributor, re-install the FI parts and test. Then he would have to pull the FI parts again to replace the injectors. Also, he would pull it off and on the rack twice to test drive twice. And all along his "bill you" clock should be running.
So, the correct answer is to take care of multiple problems while he's in there and any good mechanic will let you know of these options.
Another way to look at this is - would you expect a mechanic doing your brake job to replace the shoes, test drive, then pull everything back apart to replace a wheel cylinder? I don't think so. He can't afford the time and you can't afford to pay him to work this way.
Tom
www.stir-plate.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Loren Busch
Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 11:54 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: The coninuing distributer saga - LOOONG
On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 9:38 AM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:
>
> 1. Your mechanic can not work on your car the way you work on
> software. He would have disassemble, reassemble to do the distributor
> and then disassemble, reassemble again to do the injectors - all billable time.
>
With some limits I have to disagree with that when troubleshooting. By that logic, if there is a problem, replace all parts that could cause the problem (let's assume five or six), start vehicle, and if now running okay charge for all the parts and never know which one was the problem. No customer is going to be happy with that plus the problem wasn't defined even though cured. The customer is going to tolerate some amount of time to diagnose but is going to be very unhappy with paying for parts that didn't need replacing.