What's a reasonable amount of time for diagnostic and a plan?

[Not_FastWV]

Deleted

[W1K1]

Nope, sounds like they have no clue what they’re doing.
That’s why there is still a community like the SAMBA to keep our buses functioning and not just cobbled together

Was/is your bus still EFI?
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jim_martin_engine_build.php

1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap

[CanStan]

Sounds like they don't really want the work, and if they do it, you're going to be paying them to learn how.
If you're just dropping off parts without a diagnosis, I'd expect things to get really expensive and you'll have a high chance of being unhappy when they're done.

Like W1K1 mentioned, you have all the resources right here to get this sorted out if you are willing to put in the time.

[SGKent]

You are paying for their learning, and their mistakes. Unless you have a mechanic who has experience with VW buses, a general mechanic is not going to be a solution. There are not that many mechanics who are familiar with 45 to 50 year old cars. Most people who own one do all their own maintenance. There are simple and easy ways to destroy an VW engine, and the average mechanic will walk into some of those buzz saws easily. I suggest picking it up and not using it until you find an air cooled specialist. As an example, there is one nut that holds the oil strainer up. If someone removes that to drain the oil and inspect the screen, like they used to do on older VW's, and they hand tighten it to put it back, there is a good chance the engine is ruined permanently. The limit on that nut is 9 f t lbs and that is a lot less tight than the average mechanic would tighten it to by hand unless they have worked on a 1976 type four engine before, and are aware of the risk. In fact I wonder if the seals they ordered are a sign this has already happened.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[Clatter]

^^^What they said^^^

Run, don't walk.

Contact Robbie at Airschooled or Colin at Itinerant Aircooled.
They both do a mobile/remote 'teach you to fix your own' thing that people really like.
With an ancient vessel from a faraway land,
You're way better off equipping yourself with the tools -and- know-how to do your own work.

Sounds like if you're doing your own homework anyway, you're already most of the way there!
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Bus Motor Build

I have excellent news for the world...
There is no such thing as patina.
It does not exist!

[lil-jinx]

half the joy of owning a vintage vehicle is in maintaining it.
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620186
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=668799
1974 Bay Westfalia. she likes to be called Ethel.
1968 Dune Buggy sold dec 2024

1974 parts bus
A smart man learns from his mistakes,a very smart man learns from other's mistakes.

[Wildthings]

Agreed you have to be able to work on old rigs yourself. I asked an experienced local mechanic a question about my Dodge truck a few years back and he came out and looked under the hood and on seeing that I still had a working intake air preheat, he chastised me for not having junked it saying it was worthless and I should just start the engine up and let it warm 20 minutes before I tried to drive off. I am sure that had I let others work on my Dodge at any time over the last 45 years I have owned it they would have trashed the preheat stove and I would have long ago scrapped the truck because it didn't run well cold and the engine had become an oil guzzler because of the extend cold idling while it warmed up.

[Abscate]

[jjvincent]

It's called luck of the draw. If you are lucky, a shop will have someone that has reasonable knowledge/experience to work on it. For example, where I work, I get the old stuff just because it comes in once in a while and the other guys are clueless. Ironically, I get all of the new stuff for diagnostic because you'd think in this day of age, those young guys knew how to work the myriad of different systems on things that are like 20 year old or newer, yet some do not.

Thus, we have a few customers with old VW's. You'd think I was working on some sort of machine that came from Mars when doing something to a Beetle. On the other hand, just ask them to do rear brakes on a vehicle that has an electric parking brake, it's way too technical (yet it's super simple). An oil change on a beetle is like a mystery (which it would be if you never worked on one).

In the end, the shop owner should not take in a job that becomes a PIA because the mechanics do not want to work on it. I even have limitations and will just not work on something too. I'm not a miracle worker.

Best thing was when I brought my 68 bus in and did an oil change on it at the end of the day. Since it's a 911 engine, it's nothing like what those beetles they have seen me work on. It blows their mind that it has two drain plugs.

Best thing to do is ask in front, "Do you want to work on this thing?" A shop will be honest if they really don't want to. Last thing you want to do is for them to accept it because they are being nice.

[timvw7476]

There's no reason to dismantle the engine to fix a stalling issue.
The opposite is true. For diagnostic purposes. If the shop was open with you, they'd set up an appointment, tell you if will be two days to look at it, run it, diagnose.
Meaning $175-230.
Then the 'Big Bill' to repair. Or 'bad grounds' 'blocked fuel filter/collapased hose' 'Add $250 for parts & labor' IF you're lucky.

[Wildthings]

[OB Bus]

[SGKent]

[Bnanwel]

My wife and I have lived aboard for the last twenty-six years while raising three kids. Like a VW Bus, it’s simply not for everyone. Beauty is in the eye…
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‘72 Karmann Ghia Conv.
‘73 Karmann Ghia Coupe
‘74 Karmann Ghia Coupe
‘70 Deluxe
‘72 Deluxe

[orwell84]

I think it’s always a good idea to ask the garage owner if they can and whether they actually WANT to work on your bus. For engine diagnostics, I would really hesitate. Maybe less so for brakes and suspension.

[W1K1]

I guess the OP didn’t like the way the discussion was going and deleted his post?
_________________
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jim_martin_engine_build.php

1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap

[Clatter]