Question for VW Mechanics

[mloret]

Hey guys. I posted several weeks ago that the front trunk on my 72 Super Beetle was stuck. I decided to take it to a local mechanic with tons of experience working with VWs. He's had it 6 weeks and it's still not fixed (trunk still stuck). Am I being unreasonable by telling him I'm going to get the car on Friday (tomorrow) no matter what?

M
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Michael Loret

[Kjb13]

You've been much more patient than I would have been.

[busdaddy]

Although I don't know anything about his personal situation at the shop (or his life in general) that does sound like a lot of time for a small fix, a phone call with an apology or update would have been in order. Maybe he's too busy with stuff that makes good money and doesn't want to F' around with your car and risk locking himself out or scratching the paint?
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[mloret]

Good point. He's already locked himself out. I don't think he has a lot of business. Poor guy. He's 80 years old, been working on VW's over 50 years. I think his best days are behind him though. I feel like he could be experiencing some hardship/frustration in his life and that's at the root. I have checked on the car once a week or so and he keeps making excuses and telling me to give him a few more days. After about a month, it seems like he should say "I'm sorry, I"m not going to be able to get to this," doesn't it?
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Michael Loret

[busdaddy]

[mloret]

There was no quote. He doesn't really work that way. It's very informal and inexpensive. It's almost like a favor. I think that's the blessing and the curse of the guy. I see what you mean though.

He's got a reputation in central VA for doing this kind of thing. I think VW projects go to his shop to die. I didn't think that I'd receive the treatment, but guess I was wrong.
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Michael Loret

[Just-Bill]

Pick it up and fix it yourself.
I have seen plenty of threads here that deal with that issue.

[VW_Jimbo]

[vamram]

^^^
This, as is often offered up as sound advice around the samba.
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[grandpa red]

I saw the original post and thought the mechanic did not know what he was doing but now you say he is 80 years old.
Maybe he just tinkers in his shop like the jobs are his own projects.
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'72 Beetle

[mloret]

Yeah I think that’s right. I have been taking my VWs to this guy intermittently for 10 years. This has never been a problem. But you are right—it could be that the business side of his garage has ended and now he just tinkers on projects that he enjoys and fixing of guy’s trunk is not one of those. Then it makes sense to pick up my car and take it to someone who will fix it.
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Michael Loret

[lboos]

What VW Jimbo said.

[volksworld]

it might be at the point that what he does next will screw up the paint and repainting your hood for free is not something he wants to have to deal with...sometimes you can just get frustrated with a job and have to walk away from it for a while to clear your head...and you dont know what his schedule is like...he could have stuff piled up there that hes months or years away from getting to and only tried to squeeze you in cause he thought it would be quick and simple and once it went sideways had to get back to someone else that was screaming louder than you... i'm retired and dont want to do this stuff anymore except when someone begs me and i think its a relatively simple job (which they NEVER turn out to be)....i cant even imagine what my mental attitude would be like in my 80's..maybe he's too proud to admit that hes no longer physically and/or mentally capable of doing what hes been doing for 50 years....if you get it out of there you'll be doing him a favor....and if you want to continue driving an early vw you better figure out how to do it yourself cause the folks that know how are few and far between and their numbers are getting smaller every day

[volksworld]

and you can slice the handle about 1/4 inch off the hood surface top and bottom with a cut off wheel or sawzall then drill the bolts the rest of the way out without ever touching the paint...and most of the time these hoods need one person to pull the handle in the box and another person up front to push down or wiggle the damn thing to get them to open at all...if he's alone this simple situation would be impossible

[Cusser]

[lboos]

I had the same thing happen on my 72 S/B a few years back, took a hack saw cut the handle in the middle, one cut, unscrewed both half's, no damage to the paint, don't understand your problem.
You say he's had it for six week's ? ..it's such a simple task, just do it.

[andk5591]

If you are not happy, then get the car. No harm, no foul. And be nice about it.
He is probably just as happy to get it out of there. Folks that do this as a "hobby shop" are not in a hurry and they probably have other folks that are trying to get their cars done as well.
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[mloret]

Well, after all that, I went to pick the car up on Friday and thank goodness, the he had the trunk OPEN!. He was puzzling how to fix it and cursing it for being the worst true he's dealt with in 50 years. I told him to take the striker off, forget it, and I'd deal with it. I just wanted it out of his garage and into mine. I'll try to figure it out on my time now.

Thanks for the words of wisdom! Pretty sure we have a trunk alignment problem here. Will see.

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Michael Loret

[vwoldbug]

Nice looking car ,is the safety position still working don't let the front hood blow open .

[Cusser]

The latch is not rocket science. See the photos I've posted earlier in your posts.

The computer expert in the passenger seat looks like he could help you.
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