Date:         Tue, 6 Jul 1999 11:45:28 -0600
Reply-To:     Emily Goodin <emilyg@ONEIMAGE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Emily Goodin <emilyg@ONEIMAGE.COM>
Subject:      Coolant capacity -&- brake question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi all,

We like our mechanic, but unfortunately he has left his shop in the
hands of others while he takes a vacation (in HIS Westy!) and I'm having
trouble with some work done by one of his employees.  I'd like to have
some backup info from you folks before I go back requesting that they
fix the "work" they did on a coolant flush/fill and a brake fluid
change....

I had the cooling system flushed/filled and I took my own coolant and
distilled water for them (3 gallons of each, so they would have a little
left over for me).  The guy only used ONE gallon of coolant and ONE
gallon of water.  Based on this (and my Haynes manual which says
capacity is 17.5 liters - 5 gallons?) my thought is that the radiator
didn't get flushed out.  Would you agree?

Had the brake fluid changed.  After having that done, when I first press
on the brake pedal after not using it a while, it goes pretty far down
before engaging the brakes - any presses on it after the first press
give me the "correct" feel and stopping response.  Do you think they
just didn't bleed the brakes enough to get the air out, or is this
something more serious (and probably not based on the fluid change but
just coincidence?)

This is a bummer because the main mechanic at this shop has seemed very
forthright and honest with us in the past, but now I'm being told by his
people that they DID use enough coolant (capacity is three gallons!!!)
and that I probably need a new master cylinder.

Thanks much for any assistance,
  Emily in Boulder, CO
  possible candidate for mechanic school <g>
  '89 Westy, "Blauevogel" (bluebird)