TheSamba.com :: View topic - search feature--no disrespect intended

Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:51 pm

I don't have any manuals yet, but I was a service station owning mechanic once, and then a paint and body guy. Just bought the Bay my Dad road trained me with, from Dad. It has rust issues, lol. I work a lot, got problems with the 2nd ex-wife and the child support. Got problems with the 3rd wife, 10 years younger and very vocal, lol. Such is life.
There is so much knowledge here, but I can't get at it. I have acquired engine surround seal, in 3 pieces, have since seen much cheaper prices. I know there must have been specific discussions on the prep/ install. A three, four, or five word search gives almost 8,000 results. A one word search gives 250. Not gonna read past the 1st page which are all irrelevant. It seems that noobs are advised to search. Heysu christu, if I had to read something like the collected works of Tolstoy, in order to light my home furnace, my ass would freeze to death.
So is there a coolio solution? Perhaps an indexed and subdivided repair sticky? It seems to me that this site should be able to surpass the need for two or three manuals, and improve upon what the two or three manuals provide. This is my challenge to you Sirs, whether or not you decide to accept it. This tape will self destruct in five seconds......

Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:58 pm

There is no replacement for the Bentley. www.ratwell.com is a great source of info as well as www.type2.com I know it can be tedious being told to use the search function, but as someone who has spent a few years as a member of this site, I can tell you honestly it was been quite a while since anything new has been covered. The info is out there.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:08 pm

And that is my point, it is out there, but not obtainable here. As the pre-eminent source for VW info, I would like THESAMBA to hook me up in this new instant info age we live in. Tom.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:10 pm

TheTominator wrote: And that is my point, it is out there, but not obtainable here. As the pre-eminent source for VW info, I would like THESAMBA to hook me up in this new instant info age we live in. Tom.

Why don't you drop Everett an email and let him know about your dissatisfaction with this free site and tell him how you would like to see it changed so it more pefectly suits your needs. Let me know what he says.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:15 pm

Why don't you contribute something significant? I have made purchases because the of ads I saw here.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:17 pm

I also have issues with the search and would like a "google" like feature. But Everett has a "day job" and when you think of the integration of the forum with the gallery and the classified this site is the best of the best.

Now lets all have a group hug. After all this is the BWF. ;)

And the two of you can help and buy a

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:19 pm

TheTominator wrote: Why don't you contribute something significant? I have made purchases because the of ads I saw here.

That's right...you've been here ten minutes and now you know it all. If you can do it better, go right on ahead and fire up your own VW Site. We've all made purchases through thesamba, it doesn't make you special. You have a specific question? Ask it.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:21 pm

Ranting just a little more. So you advise that I should just shut up when asking for those that have the knowledge to share it more efficiently? You suggest I risk banishment? LOL. I suspect everett will like my idea.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:25 pm

No disagreement Glen and Tech knows how to tow a vehicle. Somebody tell I'm wrong though.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:34 pm

I know what you mean about the search function. But this is a large site and it is to be expected. I have found selecting the post option instead of the topic allows me to do a quick read to see if the thread pertains to my search. Not perfect by far but it helps a little.

Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:10 pm

TheTominator wrote: Why don't you contribute something significant? I have made purchases because the of ads I saw here.

maybe you should purchase the previously mentioned Bently manual...can probably purchase it here onsite, or from a supplier that has an add here.... there is no replacement for a proper manual(or more than one)..... all this information on this site is great....but you will get fifteen different opinions and different ways of doing things...some better than others..... the manual will be much simpler and possibly save you some money from not throwing parts at a problem, but by methodically troubleshooting..... not to sound rude, but you have completely ignored the best advice you were given...

Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:12 pm

Can you tell me what you searched on or what you selected on the search screen?

It may just be a matter of selecting more specific options on the search screen.

For instance, I only got 44 matches when I did the following:
Entered "engine seal" (no quotes) in the search box
Selected "Search for all terms" to find both engine AND seal
Selected the "Bay Window" category only
Selected "Search Title only"

Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:16 pm

Glenn wrote: I also have issues with the search and would like a "google" like feature. But Everett has a "day job" and when you think of the integration of the forum with the gallery and the classified this site is the best of the best.

You can use the Google search from the home page to search anything that Google has indexed.

Direct link:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/search.php

If you are more familiar with doing Google-type searches, this may produce a better result for you.

Be warned that this searches the entire site so it will probably automatically return more results than a specific Forums search.

Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:05 am

a poor mechanic always blames the tools, eh? buy a Bentley and get on with it....

Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:06 am

TheTominator wrote: A three, four, or five word search gives almost 8,000 results. A one word search gives 250.

1. 8000 results? Are you selecting the "all" word option instead of the "any" word option?
2. It's true that you often get several pages of results, but usually you can scroll through the list and find a thread that directly answers the question pretty quickly.

Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:27 am

Thanks for telling me I was wrong Everett. The lesson on the proper way to search was most helpful. Is there a tutorial available that more fully explains the search feature? Your input was also helpful Coad.