1500.00 for a valve job?

socalgoblin · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:44 am Post subject: 1500.00 for a valve job?

I did search before posting ,just wondering about this i have a 77 westy,i had a tune up about 2 months ago and have been taking it aback so they can adjust the idle because it dies out when i am at a stop,not all the time though,well this weekend everytime i put it in first from second it would die, anyways i took it back again,now he tells me that i should estimate it at 1500.00 if it needs a valve job ,does that seem about right, i do want a second opinion, so if someone can recomend a mechanic in the norwalk,ca area thats 90650,or give me some advised i would appreciate it,also the van ran better before i had the tune up,i bought it in january,its had regular maintenence ,but its not from this area or else id take it back to the previous owners shop,sorry to ramble ,david [email protected]

DurocShark · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

Here's what a valve job involves on a bus:

Disconnect everything on engine (wires, fuel lines, etc).
Remove all exhaust components.
Remove engine.
Remove intake and fuel injection components.
Remove valve train.
Remove pushrod tubes.
Remove cylinder heads.
Perform valve job.
Installation is the reverse of removal.

$1500 does sound high, but not horribly so.

However I think they jacked something during their adjustments. Prolly just a vacuum leak. Find another shop.
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mightyart · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:00 am Post subject:

That's why most of us do our own work, it ran better before you took it to them, now they say somethings wrong with your valves.
Did they say what they will be doing, when doing a "valve job"
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DjEep · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:41 am Post subject:

I would never take it back to a shop that made work for them to do...
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twinfalls · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:43 am Post subject:

pyrOman · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject:

Buy a set of heads, do it yourself, save $1k! Rolling Eyes

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ratwell · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: 1500.00 for a valve job?

socalgoblin · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:08 pm Post subject:

well its 2:00 in the afternoon ,my bus has been there since yesterday and they still havent looked at it,to make sure its the valves ,they originally told me it was a vacume leak,so im hoping it is just that and they just need to adjust something,i wish i knew another shop just to get there opinion,anyone in the la/oc area know of a good one?

regalasr · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject:

These guys are all good:

Jim's VW Service & Repair, 849 E. Garvey Ave, Monterey Park
(626) 288-9760

Berts Alley Wagen, 4222 Park Place, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
(626) 962-0995

Le Mans Import Motors, 5872 Central Ave, Los Angeles
(323) 231-4101

STEVE'S IMPORT AUTO CTR, 753 E ARROW HWY, AZUSA, 91702-5803
(626) 967-0782

Alamitos Bays · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject: Norwalk area mechanics

I've had good luck here:

T-N-T Automotive
3303 East 19th Street
Signal Hill, California 90804
562/439-6720
There are usually four or five Bays in the parking lot, so they see a lot of them.

I've heard good things about Old Speed in Paramount, too:
Old Speed
7311-A Madison Street
Paramount, CA 90723
(562) 531-4190
oldspeed.com

socalgoblin · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:27 pm Post subject:

well i went to get my bus a 6:00 and first they told me i needed to rebuild the engine and then it was a bad head,then after i told them to put it back together and i would take it somewhere else for another opinion ,he said he would adjust the valves and pick it up in the morning ,i told him its been there 2 days ,he said come bake in an hour,now he says its just not getting enough fuel to the carb and that everything else is ok! HUH,so i guess i need to learn how to tune up my own bus, thanks for all the mechanics you all mentioned and your advise,it seems to be running good now,but definitley not going pack to that shop,thanks ,david socalgoblin

jasvidas · Samba Member Joined: January 09, 2005 Posts: 65

That mechanic stinks! Post his name and location to keep others from going there.

renobdarb · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:50 am Post subject:

Were you at the same mechanic as this guy?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=167717&highlight=
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twinfalls · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:59 am Post subject:

A stupid question:
Don't you have VW dealers/shops, with old mechanics who know about old VWs ?
I had good service at VW, as well as terrible bs, until the guy who really knows got involved.
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DurocShark · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:59 am Post subject:

Wow. Just wow.
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No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.

pyrOman · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:10 am Post subject:

It sucks to know nothing about cars when owning an aircooled vw... or any forkin vehicle for that matter! Rolling Eyes

Good luck on finding an honest to goodness mechanic and when you do, don't go pissing him off!!! Razz

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jayk47 · Samba Member Joined: November 01, 2004 Posts: 32

well one thing you definately can do yourself is take the engine out and strip it to what they need to work on... A garage will normally estimate time to perform those jobs ($80 an hour)... If it takes them a couple of hours to take it out and strip it (it shouldn't) and then rebuild it and put it back in (a few hours) your already giving them $80 per hour for jobs you could easily perform yourself.....

reinyvw · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:23 am Post subject:

my mechanic here in good old kentucky removed rebuilt and ran my current 2L in 4 hours... He said at one point in his career he could redo 3 engines a day with an outstanding rate

its all in who touches the engine.
I have had my rebuilt 2L for 4 years with no problems.

good luck
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Amskeptic · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:38 am Post subject:

Why would any self-respecting person brag about how fast they can do a precise intricate job? What is there to be proud of? Who wants to hear it? Is this country so damn revved up that *knocking it out* is the new skill set? The only people who want to *hear* about how fast you are are the people profiting off of your work. No thanks.

I have read some of these horror stories and it just pisses me off to my bones. These cars are history. And the idiots screwing them up are helping to drive these cars into extinction. Shame on them, as if they know what shame is.
Colin
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socalgoblin · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

Well i didnt know if i could post the name of the shop,but its Transprecision,its in downey,ca,it was the older german mechanic that kept telling me different problems and prices,the owner of the shop ,i think got wise when i said i would take it to another shop for another opinion,seems to be magically working good now.


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