Date:         Mon, 12 Apr 1999 23:50:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Edward Berlett <berlett@SABER.TOWSON.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Berlett <berlett@SABER.TOWSON.EDU>
Subject:      AVP and repair costs nationwide (Longish)
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

I have purchased and had installed an 2.1l engine in my 87 GL from AVP.
Mostly from the strength of their recommendation on this list.
Unfortunately, after 3000 miles the engine developed a head gasket leak.
AVP claims that there were a batch of bad head gaskets from the
manufacturer and that the warrenttee work will be paid by the gasket
manufacturer.

This is all well and good. The dicrepency comes from the amount that they
are willing to pay for the replacement.  They would only pay for
replacement with the engine in place.  They only allow 5 hours for the job
at $36 an hour (which they claim is the national average), and they supply
the parts.  I don't see how any professional shop can pay a mechanic and
have the overhead for that little.  The mechanic who did the work took 7
hours and charges somewhere around $44 an hour.  AVP did up the time to 6
hours, but that still leaves quite a discrepency.

There are several issues at play here.  Is it reasonable to expect someone
to do a job in a method to which they are not accustomed?  Is 5 hours a
reasonable amount of time to complete the job (especially if it is the
first time the mechanic did a gasket replacement this way)?   It seems to
me that is expecting the mechanic to bust a gut to get the job done that
quickly.  If I had been given anywhere near that price to replace a head
gasket, I would still be using my '84 van and wouldn't have the other two.
Nobody came close to this price.

I would appreciate feedback from the list one way or the other.  AVP said
they will ask the gasket manufacturer to increase the hours of labor.  I
would like to have some ammunition one way or the other to state my case.

Thanks
Ed
'84 GL
'86 syncro
'87 GL
'91 Cherokee