Date:         Sun, 22 Dec 2013 11:32:41 -0800
Reply-To:     al sinclair <alvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         al sinclair <alvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      air-cooled engine expert recommendation needed near San Jose CA
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Does anyone here have a recommendation for a good engine mechanic to find
and fix a problem on our air-cooled '81 Westie please, somewhere near San
Jose CA?

My commute is between Santa Cruz and Santa Clara, so anywhere not too far
off that rat-run would be ideal, but I'll go most anywhere for a
knowledgeable tech.

Our Westie is having trouble starting cold - the colder it is (and that's
not really lower than 30 here) the worse it is. She also stalls when cold,
then won't restart without sitting for quite a while. When decently warmed
up she starts just fine, but on the highway putting the gas pedal to the
floor produces a bad drop in power.

The car had a new short-block at 60,000 miles (previous owner put a piston
through a cylinder), and has done another 50K since then, reliably running
fine until the last few months. It's an automatic if that makes any
difference. I guess it's a fuel system issue but that's outside my
expertise.

This is getting to the stage where we're not going places because we may
not get back. Last time we went camping (Highland Lakes in the Sierras at
about 8,000 feet) it took me six hours to get the beast started, and that
was only possible because a friend was there too so I could use his
LandRover as a battery. I daren't go remote places by myself now, so any
pointers to someone who can diagnose and cure the problem will be wonderful.

Happy holidays - here's to a happy and healthy, prosperous and peaceful
2014 for all.

Alan