Last year I wrote a nifty little Access database for = tracking all my vehicle maintenance.  It categorized all the = repairs by type (i.e. tune-up, engine, steering, suspension, etc.) and = then had a sub-database of all the parts used (by VW part = number).

This allowed me to run reports showing categories of = repairs, costs, etc. sorted by date, mileage, category, etc. etc.  = Well, I put a lot of work into it (but it was fun!), and unfortunately, = I seem to have forgotten which hard drive I had it on (don't ask) and = think I may have erased it.  (I think it may now be on its way to = becoming a Linux MP3 server...) Doh!

Before I embark on this project a second time, has = anyone else out there done something like this already?  If so, = I'd love to see what you've done.  And, if no one has done it, I'd = love to hear feedback from people that might have ideas for this sort = of project.  If I do it again, I will make it available to list = members, for sure.  Now that I have a list of all the VW part = numbers and their descriptions, I may even make a cross-reference table = in the database for item descriptions by part number...  = :-)

BTW, in the way of background, the reason I did this = was that when I bought my Syncro, I was handed a 2" thick stack of = repair receipts, all of which were from the original dealer that sold = the Syncro to the PO.  Every time I wanted to find out the last = time "x" was replaced or had PM done, I had to leaf through = this huge stack of paperwork, and try and decipher the service = department's hand scribbles.  By creating the database, I was able = to look up by category or individual part number, and see the actual = record (date and mileage, etc) of when work was done.  Classic = case of "do a bunch of work now to save time in little increments = over the long run".

Cheers,

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
Santa Barbara, CA