Date:         Wed, 22 Sep 1999 06:40:23 -0700
Reply-To:     drc11 <drc11@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         drc11 <drc11@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject:      Doing those Tune-ups Myself Again
Comments: To: The Bus Depot <ron@NETCARRIER.COM>

Before launching on a 3.000 mile vacation in our Westie we had a tune-up at
our local shop where we'd been customers for 10 years.  300 miles from home
we discovered after fixing an oil leak they didn't check the oil and we were
2+ quarts low.  After fixing a coolant leak they sent us out 1 gallon low on
coolant.  The belts were to have been checked and replaced if any question.
6 hours from home we lost the power steering .  When we got home and
unpacked I pulled the engine lid off and checked to see what was wrong.  I
discovered a broken PS belt that had to be the original it was so old and
cracked.  A look at the other 2 belts revealed one had been replaced not too
long ago but the alternator belt was definately the original and in as much
dissrepair as the PS belt.  We started investigating the tune-up parts.  The
2 harder-to-get-to spark plugs had not been changed where as the more
accessible 2 had been.  I question that the rotor and cap were changed
because of their condition (my bugs never looked that bad at 5,000).  The
air filter had been changed.

Lesson learned:  No matter how much you trust your shop... double check
their work.  We should have checked the engine fluids at the gas station on
the way out of town to be sure!!  Things change over time and shop personnel
change.  I've explained my discontent to them and told them I'd never
return - and we're doing our own tune ups once again.  After seeing the
quality of parts at the NAPA store it was a pleasure to get the nice Bosch
parts from the Bus Depot in the mail.  The prices were reasonable too.
Can't wait to get the new hatch struts put on.

Madeline
'90 Syncro Westie