Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 09:32:00 EST
Reply-To: KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Subject: SACRIFICIAL OFFERING! (I am serious) <long>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Bob's very reasonable price on his '85 camper has reminded me of a topic that
I have wanted to speak to the List about for some time.
My friend, who is a devout motorhead, has come up with what he calls the "car
god" philosophy. He says that the way most car owners troubleshoot problems
thier vehicles are having is like the stereotypical pagan villagers trying
trying to appease thier hungry volcano god.
Instead of sitting down with a manual, trying to get to know the system that
they are having problems with, and coming up with a step-by-step
troubleshooting method (most good manuals have charts like this in them
already), they instead, out of some primal fear of all things mechanical,
decide that the proper way to solve the problem is by making sacrifices to the
"car god". They feel that the gods are angry with them and if they spend a
certain amount of money on thier cars that then the gods will be appeased and
allow them to drive thier vehicles again without mishap.
They go to the parts store or take thier car to the mechanic and spend money
buying parts to throw at the problem. When this does not work, thier reaction
is that thier sacrifice must've not been enough, so they throw more expensive
parts at the problem. Finally after hundreds or even thousands of dollars
they either find someone who can help them troubleshoot the problem or they
get disgusted and sell the car.
I have seen this attitude ALOT on this list. I am not faulting anyone for
this behaviour because I have been there myself. We all have to start
somewhere. However I think one of the purposes of this list is to help folks
learn about thier vans. So that when a problem comes up they will know thier
vehicles well enough to at least have a good idea what the problem is (if not
be able to troubleshoot thier own problems). This is the goal I have for the
folks on this list. You have to become familiar with your van.
1. Open the rear engine compartment of your van and look around in there.
Try to get over the fear of the unknown. You would be surprised how many
folks I have run into that have never done this.
2. Buy a good manual and peruse it. Either a Bentley or one of those UK
Haynes from Ron if you are low on cash. Get to know your vehicle. When you
have a problem don't panic! 90% of the time it is something simple that you
can fix yourself.
3. If you have to go to a mechanic try to go to one that has a good
reputation for working on VWs (Vanagon specific would be nice) and insist on
getting your old parts back (some mechanics are not honest and an honest mech
will have no problem with this request).
4. When other folks on this list have a problem read the post and then read
how they solved it later. This will prepare you for this problem in the
future or perhaps help you to help someone else.
I hope this helps some folks. I am not trying to put anyone down. If you
need help with a problem it is way better to be honest and to ask for help
than to pretend that you know what you are doing and wreck something. Let
being a Vanagon owner be a growing experience. If you learn these systems on
this van it will help you with any other vehicle you ever own since all cars
basically have similar systems.
Sorry about the preaching.
Ken Wilford
Van-Again
John 3:16
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