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Abscate 
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 23855
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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 Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 10:30 am Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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| Quote: |
| there are a lot of us all around the globe |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52330
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 11:01 am Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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| Quote: |
| there are a lot of us all aROUND the GLOBE |
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livethevanlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2015
Posts: 265
Location: La Paz, Baja California Sur
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 11:20 am Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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This was very well said.
| Phishman068 wrote: |
There will continue to be less and less folks willing to touch these, and when you find a mechanic that will- You should absolutely do everything you can to keep them. That means buying parts through them (unless they ask you to source the parts) instead of sourcing the parts yourself to "save money", working with their timeline flexibly, etc etc etc.
These vehicles are complex, they're unreliable, and they're hard to work on.
They are NOT the same as other similar aged vehicles.
The number one reason mechanics won't work on them before- CUSTOMERS.
So, don't treat this like dropping off your jeep to the dealer, it's simply not the same.
There's also plenty of bad parts out there that are the only option. If you ask the mechanic to replace your syncro fuel tank sender for instance and the only option is a JP group one, know that you're either paying them for HOURS of calibrating it, or you're getting it back inaccurate. It's absolutely not fair to expect them to do that repair at a flat rate, and when you complain that it's not right, especially if you sourced the part- the part isn't the problem, the mechanic isn't the problem, You, and you're expectations are.
You Gota have modern expectations for what they can possibly do for your non modern vehicle. |
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Vanagon Restorations www.LiveTheVanLife.com
The Westy Bravo https://smallcar.com/westy-bravo/
1991 Syncro Triple Knob Westfalia "Miki" 2.2l WBX
1992 Syncro Triple Knob Tintop "Schnitzel" 1.9AAZ
1990 Syncro Doka Subi 2.2l
1974 Thing
1989 Carat Tintop |
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hans j
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2006
Posts: 2741
Location: Salt Lake City UT
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 11:39 am Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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| Phishman068 wrote: |
There will continue to be less and less folks willing to touch these, and when you find a mechanic that will- You should absolutely do everything you can to keep them. That means buying parts through them (unless they ask you to source the parts) instead of sourcing the parts yourself to "save money", working with their timeline flexibly, etc etc etc.
These vehicles are complex, they're unreliable, and they're hard to work on.
They are NOT the same as other similar aged vehicles.
The number one reason mechanics won't work on them before- CUSTOMERS.
So, don't treat this like dropping off your jeep to the dealer, it's simply not the same.
There's also plenty of bad parts out there that are the only option. If you ask the mechanic to replace your syncro fuel tank sender for instance and the only option is a JP group one, know that you're either paying them for HOURS of calibrating it, or you're getting it back inaccurate. It's absolutely not fair to expect them to do that repair at a flat rate, and when you complain that it's not right, especially if you sourced the part- the part isn't the problem, the mechanic isn't the problem, You, and you're expectations are.
You Gota have modern expectations for what they can possibly do for your non modern vehicle. |
Best reply here. I changed shops a few years ago and this new shop only works on cars 10-15 years old. I'm definitely not sad about not working on Vanagons and Eurovans all the time. I'm a little sad I not longer have access the the Vanagon junkyard we had at the other shop tough. I still work on my personal fleet plenty, but hear that new Sprinter calling pretty loud...
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 23855
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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Treat any shop that will work on your car like a friend. Bring the your oil change business, business with some margin.
I was commuting between upstate and Long Island during Covid while the Dr Mrs worked the shifts of Hell. My fuel line work on my AWD Volvo pooped the bed, and I thought it was headed for LKQ heaven. One mile from home , a Euro garage dropped my tank and replumbed for 4 hours labour. Iโve been shuffling work to them since. I did get a nice compliment from John who said I love working on cars with new hardware and lots of antiseize!
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 2316
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 12:54 pm Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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I'll post a blurb from my Eurovan DIY Wheel Alignment thread in the Eurovans forum:
Following my installation of new ball joints and bushings this month on all four corners of my 2001 Eurovan Winnebago Camper, I optimistically started calling around the good shops in Austin for an alignment.
What I got was a bunch of NOs. The one shop that accepted my appointment changed their mind once I arrived.
Shop manager: "We don't have the specs for that van. We can't align it."
Kourt: [I know he's lying and at this point I am pretty sure I won't be leaving my van here, but I still try] "I printed out the specs and the adjustment procedures from the VW manuals and left them on the front passenger seat. Also, you aligned this van two years ago on your Hunter rack, which has specs for all vehicles."
Shop manager: [frowning because I caught him in a lie] "Let me go talk to my tech." [steps outside, mumbling] "Sorry sir, my tech won't touch it. Call suchandsuch and ask them..."
...and suchandsuch shop also declined.
This was a basic repair job for a 2001 Eurovan.
I'm with Abscate on this: asking shops to work on Vanagons is not just a big ask--it's wishful thinking that will result in disappointment.
kourt
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3366
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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| riceye wrote: |
Did I read a while back that Larry in Livingston is no longer servicing Vanagons? |
If that's the same shop as I'm thinking I believe he retired or else moved to a different location - the old one is now a flooring company (who coincidently just did a great job installing wood flooring in my house).
Auto Stop is still working on vans and they've seen mine a few times over the years, most recently to remove/ship/reinstall my trans. I prefer Straightaway for a few different reasons but I'm glad Auto Stop is still an option.
There's a place down the road in Four Corners that has a great reputation for working on Euro cars but their website explicitly states "no rear engined VWs".
I hear what ya'll are saying about working on your own vintage vehicles. That's a reality I accept and understood when I bought the van 15 years ago. I was just more hopeful that those big ticket items (motor and trans) would be a "buy once, cry once" thing during my ownership.
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zerotofifty
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Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3756
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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There is only one shop near me that will do smog test on my 1980 Triumph, a job I am not allowed to do myself!!! I bring in my factory work shop book so they can understand where all the smog parts go. They do it cheerfully and are nice, but one of these days they will be gone, then what???
One other smog shop that claims to do older cars would not do it, which is fine by me cause them fools thought it was a Fiat (even though it clearly says Triumph on the body)
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Give Peace a Chance.
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calsurf
Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2022
Posts: 186
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 7:53 pm Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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| zerotofifty wrote: |
There is only one shop near me that will do smog test on my 1980 Triumph, a job I am not allowed to do myself!!! I bring in my factory work shop book so they can understand where all the smog parts go. They do it cheerfully and are nice, but one of these days they will be gone, then what???
One other smog shop that claims to do older cars would not do it, which is fine by me cause them fools thought it was a Fiat (even though it clearly says Triumph on the body) |
A Fiat?! That's an insult from a guy that owned a Fiat.
Want to not worry about smogging that Triumph, or any car 35 yrs or older in the future, support CA SB712. |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 4555
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:45 am Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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"""""Do not disparage flat Earthers, there are a lot of us all around the globe, and we are not putting up with it."""
I thought this was pretty funny, while hanging on to Earth for dear life since I sailed off the edge a long time ago.... 
Now I'll wait for someone to paste the Kansas Album Cover that says it all.... 
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Last edited by jlrftype7 on Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Outback Kampers
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Joined: December 29, 2004
Posts: 2341
Location: Oregon Outback
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| Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 10:47 pm Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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"These vehicles are complex, they're unreliable, and they're hard to work on."
C'mon...I chose to spend many years working on them because they are the opposite of all that. (I only wish I have bought a lift years ago.)
Craig, maybe you need a different mechanic.
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Karl Mullendore
1990 Syncro 16" sunroof Reimo highroof conversion
1990 Westy Multivan 112i automatic
1992 LT31 Karmann Distance Wide 'La Tortuga'
2014 Touareg X TDI |
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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 1185
Location: PNW โ Washington
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| Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2025 9:43 am Post subject: Re: One less Vanagon mechanic (soon) |
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Yep. A reliable Vanagon shop in Placerville (CA) where we had Scarlett serviced changed hands. New owner decided to work only on newer vehicles. So we moved to Washingtonโฆ
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โMost everyoneโs mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.โ โ Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
โScarlettโ โ 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
โNigelโ โ 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic) |
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