Date:         Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:53:14 -0400
Reply-To:     Jason <uberhare@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jason <uberhare@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vibration when radiator fan on high speed
In-Reply-To:  <151201cc32d1$bedcb230$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I agree with Scott - $400 does seem a bit much to reseal the tank.   I
will be taking pictures and document the procedure for all in a few
months when I get around to doing mine.  It will likely be in the
fall.   But to be fair - I wasn't there doing the work, maybe things
were rusty and they ran into issues....

Jason


On Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 8:49 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans
<scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> re the last line..
> that's because there isn't time in a regular car shop to proceed very
> carefully in a logical manner.
> I may spend as much time explaining to people what the risks are of a given
> job on these old babies as I do fixing them.
>
> I'd glad to drop a 2WD gas tank and reseal it and put it back in for 400
> .........that's nice pay.
>
> I would, sincerely, be careful about doing to many repairs or changes at
> once.
> If it had been just the AC...
> you could just focus on how that's working and if high on the rad fan is
> right..
> ( many cars are wired so when AC comressor clutch is engaged, rad fan comes
> on ..
> though not on 'full roar' that I am aware of. )
>
> so they worked on 4 main areas..
> AC
> emissions and oil change,
> shift linkage,
> and gas tank.
>
> It's likely you would have better results if you didn't ask them to do those
> four areas all at once.
>
> besides, in a regular car repair shop ...
> there isn't time to do it carefully and really truly right.
> You increase the odds of successs by not asking them to take on too many
> repairs or tasks in one visit.
>
> if the goal on 'emissions' was to get within spec, and change the oil..
> that by itself would have been one thing to tackle in one shop visit.
>
> now you have at least two problems..   i.e. it's not really done.
> Fan on 'full roar' may not be right ..
> and it doesn't go for beans when you tell it too.
>
> they will even have to do a lot of explaining, or work on it some more. ..
> or you'll have to take what you have right now ..
> which doesn't sound satisfactory.
>
> I'm serious too ..
> having worked 'in the trenches' countless thousands of days on 'regular ole
> foreign car repair ' ..
> it's not fun when there are issues to deal with on a car from one end to the
> other.  It's just more streesful than it is anyway .........like to have it
> done right by 5 o'clock ...
> that's insanely hard as it is, never mind numerous issues to deal with all
> at once.
> It dilutes their focus.
>
> keep it simple for them .....'what ah'm sayin.'
> and it increases the odds for success .
>
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David M" <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 4:33 PM
> Subject: Vibration when radiator fan on high speed
>
>
> Just paid $1200 to have my van worked on (a/c fixed, fuel tank resealed,
> gearshift linkage, oil change, emissions). Mechanic said fan should be on
> high-speed whenever a/c is on, is this true?
> Now I notice a really bad vibration (can feel it thru pedals) when a/c fan
> is on high.
> Could this vibration have to do with fuel tank being dropped and
> re-installed?
> I dont know if fan was ever on high before but I never noticed this
> vibration back when the a/c worked before (10 years ago).
> Also van now has no pick-up whatsoever, I press the gas pedal and it takes
> forever for me to take off.
> Regarding a/c all mechanic did was fill it with freon R12 (3 1/2 pounds cost
> $262.50).
> It was $400 in labor to do the gas tank with me supplying the kit of parts.
> The oil change cost me $106.50 because the drain plug stripped and labor to
> install a helicoil was $80.
> I have to take van back on Tuesday for them to check if any of the valuable
> freon has leaked out.
> Its so frustrating that whenever I take my van in to be worked on., it
> always comes back with the original problem fixed but with a new set of
> problems appearing!
>
> -David (1987 Wolfsburg)
>