Date:         Thu, 19 Aug 1999 02:02:31 -0400
Reply-To:     Noto-Gaudette <derwin@NET1PLUS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Noto-Gaudette <derwin@NET1PLUS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Bad Mechanic ???
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

>these vehicles having a known history of head-gasket problems, when
>overheated.

Hmmmm...I thought Vanagons overheat because of the head gasket problem
(bad gasket=coolant loss=high temps), not the other way around. Please
correct me if I'm wrong!

I think the "known history" of head-gasket problems is that of
corrosion, which increases the risk of overheating. Corrosion works it's
way in between the head and gasket over time and miles. Gaskets might
leak when they're cold (due to contraction), or fail in a big way while
the engine's hot--at a stop light or wherever--but the failure has been
approaching for the last 60,000 miles or so.

Corrosion--not the gasket failure--is also probably the reason for the
mechanic's recommendation to replace the heads. The heads probably have
an uneven surface, probably pitted from thousands of miles of use--no
matter what coolant you used--in which case a tight seal with the new
gasket is unlikely.

Is your radiator free of blockage? The same manual that apparently (I
don't have one) says not to idle for over 30 minutes probably tells you
to always use VW coolant in order to avoid overheating and
corrosion--did you? Did you follow the coolant change schedule as
recommended by the manual? Got the receipts? In fact, how do you know
that the engine overheated when the gasket failed? Because of an owner's
manual warning? Is there any damage anywhere else to the engine due to
overheating? Perhaps the big event when the gasket failed was just a
puddle of coolant on the floor. I'd want to know for sure before I
brought a suit--or else you might face a counter suit seeking to recover
his legal expenses. Ask your lawyer who has the burden of proving
whether the engine was ready to "pack it in." If the burden is yours,
rather than the mechanic bringing in metalurgical experts, if anyone
would, it would be you. (No offense, M.R. :-) I'm just trying to save on
"Stranded" some legal expenses...)

I'm not crazy about the idea that it's better to replace the engine
rather than rebuild, but if you've put nearly 60,000 miles on your
engine since the last head gasket replacement, or you replaced the head
gaskets without replacing the heads, AND your mechanic is recommending a
new engine due to corrosion & pitting on the heads, NOT heat damage,
consider yourself lucky--when your head gasket failed because of
corrosion, you didn't even have to pay for a tow! If you can't get a
warrantee for a rebuild (hey! there's something to negotiate for!),
maybe you should bring it elsewhere and have it thoroughly checked out
for damage from overheating (then you might have a case!)--as you
rebuild.

Anyhow, I wish you good luck in finding a fair repair deal for your
Vanagon!

-George
Disclaimers: I am not a legal expert. My cat prefers canned food. I have
never slept in a barrel.