Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 15:08:23 -0400
Reply-To: Christopher Quijano <cjquijano@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Quijano <cjquijano@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: EV Problems/cost - Any sugestions?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Well, in my most recent talk with my VW mechanic at Chaplin's, I was
informed that I have the highest milege EVC VR6 they have seen. So I
thought I would share problems with everyone.
First of all, I have a 1997 EVC VR6. The van was purchased in October
1996, so its less than two years old. I have 39K on the van which is a mix
of freeway and city driving. My van averages 16 mpg, and I have put 20
gallons in the tank (to answer other posts).
The problems started at 33,000 miles. the rear (good news... it has two)
O2 sensor went out. the emissions warrenty covers the sensor for
2yr/24,000miles. I complained and the dealer paid labor and VW paid for
the part. However, this part should have lasted for 90,000+ miles. Total
cost of repair was $500.
At 36,000 miles the alternator went out in the van. The extended warrenty
did cover this, however, in my limited experience I have never seen an
alternator go out under 100K. The cost for this repair was $700.
At 39,000 miles the rear passenger blower went out (right behind the
passenger seat). Luckily extended warrenty is covering this. The total
cost will be around $500 (I'm still waiting for the part to come in).
Last Monday the van went in for its 30K mile tune-up. The dealer thought
it was on the 40K schedule, that's why it was so late. The total cost was
$650. This included $85's worth of spark plugs, $50 air filter, $50
automatic tranmission filter, and a bunch of other expensive ($40-50)
parts. It was about $350 parts, $300 labor.
I picked up the van on Tuesday, and Wednesday morning the engine light came
on. I hubbled to the dealer to find out the #3 spark plug was mis-firing.
It turns out the wire was arching and the dealer suggested replacing all
six wires. VW of course, will not touch this. However the dealer has
offered to pay the labor costs. The parts are about $300 and the labor
will be around $300. for a total repair cost of $600.
When I was looking a the vans I was also thinking about getting a late
model used Westfalia. But since the Westfalia campers I saw were
expensive, I opted to pay more and get the reliability of a new van. Well,
the total repairs and tune-up for te EVC is now about $3000 in a year and a
half. For this price and headache I could have replaced an entire vanagon
engine (so I haven't paid all $3000 myself, but its the prinipal!).
Well, i found the general number for VW of America on the web, so now its
time to try an end run around the cusomer relations people.
Good Luck with your EVC's!
Christopher Quijano
