Fred's Garage is closing ~ What shops to use in Bay Area?

[Jon_slider]

I was at Freds Garage yesterday, for an oil chance in my daughters Jetta.

I also wanted help with a CEL light that says there is a code for injection timing.

They referred me to this resource, for the injection pump issue, but said this person is not just for oil changes, he specializes in more advanced problem solving:

I have always received excellent service from Freds Garage. Im also happy for them to have the opportunity to retire from servicing old VW's.

Suggestions welcome on an alternative shop, near Stanford, for oil changes and other general maintenance for a 2003 Jetta Tdi Wagon.
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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[kamzcab86]

Bummer.

My van is now far removed from Fred's, but I've got a pile of receipts and compression reading stickers on the hatch from Fred's thanks to the 2nd owners. My van spent a fair amount of time at that place.
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~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[cmayna]

I was there today, saying hello and goodbye to John (one of the owners, I was told). Another great service provider, saying good bye and hello to retirement. Can't blame them for that.
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[jackbombay]

[16CVs]

Jon
Next time you're in town come and buy me lunch at least. Miro is a super sharp Diagnostician, he found a problem with my 96 Tdi that no one could. I don't know if he is goin to want a flood of Vanagons or Air Cooled cars. But on late model VW-BMW-MB and the like he can fix anything.
Having Fred's gone will be a shame, they have a steady clientele but by their own admission the new cars were kicking their Ass and their Techs which are actually Mechanics could not keep up with today Technology.
I have a great relationship with them and have referred many people and they have sent quite a few jobs my way.
It's a sign of the times that they can make more or easier money by renting out the property with less headaches then running a business.

Stacy
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[termuehlen]

[jb144]

It's sad to see Fred's go.
Any recommendations closer to San Francisco or Marin for a replacement shop?

[Jon_slider]

[baltik]

Having had the (mis)fortune of sampling all of the aforementioned shops - I would steer you to Valley Wagonworks, and it's not even close

[jb144]

Thanks Jon, extremely helpful comment.

[Abscate]

its tough love here on the Samba but a labor rate of $130 in urban CA is probably low. Anyone charging less and you will end up in a thread about how they busted your Bus....I mean, Van.
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.ssS!

[Jon_slider]

[cmayna]

What's interesting is that a couple days before they closed, Fred's Garage told me that they were working with Redwood General Tire of Redwood City in taking over Fred's customer list and that a couple of Fred's employees might be moving over there as well.

Then yesterday, I received a postcard from Redwood General Tire, that it was time for me to have my Vanagon tires rotated, oil changed, brakes inspected, etc.

Hmmmmm. Maybe this is the beginning of a new vanagon repair center.
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[Jon_slider]

[cmayna]

I only know at this point that it was talk back when they were getting ready to close. Don't know for sure that anyone was actually hired. Would be cool, if so.
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[Abscate]

East coast version of Jon’s comment

If you don’t have money or ability to fix your Vanagon, you will be off the road in 5 years. In 5 years, even money won’t help you.

That should be useful for planning purposes at least.
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.ssS!

[cmayna]

Yes, but in a real world there are those who in fact do buy these rigs and might not have the ability to repair their own rigs, at certain degrees and are seeking for professional help. Just trying to help them.
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[Jon_slider]

[Abscate]

If you guys are having trouble finding Vanagon expertise in urban CA, it’s a harbinger that the pro help is ending. If you look at the reviews of guys who claim to specialize , they are still screwing up routinely; translation, the old guy who knows the stuff is now managing rather than turning the wrench, and that means you Van won’t be fixed right. My partner has a toy in Tiburon, and flat beds it to shops to fix, but he has the coin to do that. His running costs are probably $5 per mile.

The message here is that you will have to come to mechanics terms with the ass that bears you, as in 5 years I think you will be on your own

There are still way too many “it was running great yesterday and it stopped...where is the distributor ?” Threads.
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.ssS!

[daytripper1600]