Date: Sun, 3 Jul 2016 15:12:29 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Shop experience gas tank
In-Reply-To: <CAKBchpoC1ZMEwk58HGwWOrM8fykMq-LoNgZxbsdShS9=ULT4xw@mail.gmail.com>
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Well, your mistake was to take it into the shop before you tried to find the leak yourself.
The tech hears "I smell gas", and that's a license to steal because they know you don't know what the problem is and it's a major safety issue. I call this the "under-car rip off syndrome" because it's just too easy for a shop to scare owners by saying something they can't see (under the car) could kill them and needs to be replaced immediately (like Jim Felder's experience). I've seen it many times.
In their defense, the tank needed to be dropped to diagnose the problem, and that's a lot of shop time. They probably figured they would replace the tank to avoid a comeback. But, given the bogus "the middle seam was leaking" (highly unlikely, and you'd smell gas all the time) I'd find another shop. I hope you kept your old tank, you can probably sell it if it truly isn't rusty.
If you still smell gas, be sure to check the tubing, valves and grommets on the two expansion tanks in the wheel wells. Also, I hope they replaced the sender O-ring!
Oh, and I hope you have replaced the original rubber fuel line, including the bits that go to the injectors!
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of bernie
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2016 10:21 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Shop experience gas tank
I was having a gas smell occasionally in 85 westy and I took it a shop that I often go to.
The fellow phoned me later in the day and said that the tank was rusted.
He said "at the point that the grommets connect to the tank it's rusted".
I said " you mean there is nothing for grommets to hold to".
He said "exactly".
The vehicle has been parked undercover for it's whole life and is a very rust free vehicle.
I took him at this word and gave the go ahead for a new tank as per recommendation.
When I went to pickup vehicle I said I wanted to see the tank.
He took me back to tank where grommets where in excellent condition, I had replaced them sometime ago, and there was no rust on tank.
I said "Where is rust on tank near grommets like you indicated".
He said " I didn't say that. It was leaking at the seal where top half of tank connects to bottom half".
He showed me an area of concern. I am not expert but it looked like it could be a problem area.
I said well I am not disputing that I may have needed a new tank however my concern is the reason for the tank has changed.
Basically he said he never said anything about rust and grommets.
I paid the bill and told him on the basis of these events I had lost confidence in the shop and we could no longer do business as to me a man's word is everything.
I know what he said to me on the phone.
Did I over react or did I make the right call to be done with this shop.
Bernie
Vancouver