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Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas)
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chrismsnt
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 8:03 am    Post subject: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

I'm having a HELL of a time trying to find a trustworthy and dependable mechanic for my rig. I have a 1.9 TDi, so they'll need to know diesel. I've just had a MISERABLE experience attempting to find my "go to guy" for repeatable work. I'm located in N. Georgia... so, it can be anywhere in the Atlanta area however I can drive up to TN, SC, or NC as well. I currently have it at a shop in NC which has had it for 8 weeks and NOTHING has been done. I need to change that. Any input would be helpful! Thanks all!
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CessnaJon
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 6:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

8 weeks? That’s terrible. I’m south of Atlanta, holla if you need a hand.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 6:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

So, what's the problem(s) ... engine, transmission, etc.?
Will the Vanagon move on it's own power?

Where in N Georgia do you live? You can PM me on that. My brother lives northeast of Atlanta .. we do the back country when we go visit him.

EDIT: Ah, I see now, Cummings, GA!
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jAndrew
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 6:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

Eurofed in Decatur did me right.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 7:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

Where in NC? Have you hit up Chris at Asheville Vee Dub
or the folks over at Tansporter Werks in Dunn?
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 4:45 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

PM me if you need some help.
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 6:01 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

It’s a sad day when you can’t get a Diesel serviced in Cummings
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chrismsnt
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:10 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

jAndrew wrote:
Eurofed in Decatur did me right.


I called them and asked if they worked on VW Vanagons... the answer was "....umm... I never had but I could." I said thanks and he answered my question. LOL Smile
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jAndrew
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:46 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

chrismsnt wrote:
jAndrew wrote:
Eurofed in Decatur did me right.


I called them and asked if they worked on VW Vanagons... the answer was "....umm... I never had but I could." I said thanks and he answered my question. LOL Smile


Strange, they have done work on mine a couple times and I've seen several others there as well.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:44 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

Nate at Westy motorwerks in Asheville is a diesel whisperer, assuming he’s still there. Asheville Vee Dub is a good shop here too.

Neither are fast, but they’re honest and reasonably priced.
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chrismsnt
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:04 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'll be circling back to some who are local who'd like to potentially roll up their sleeves! Smile For the others who made recommendations, I appreciate that as well. My van sits at one of the "recommended" places. I'm not here to bash anyone... I just think that making an appointment 6-8 weeks ahead of time, dropping it off only to have to wait 8 weeks to have it looked at it sort of excessive. Hopefully I'll be on the road again next weekend! Smile
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jAndrew
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:38 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

chrismsnt wrote:
Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'll be circling back to some who are local who'd like to potentially roll up their sleeves! Smile For the others who made recommendations, I appreciate that as well. My van sits at one of the "recommended" places. I'm not here to bash anyone... I just think that making an appointment 6-8 weeks ahead of time, dropping it off only to have to wait 8 weeks to have it looked at it sort of excessive. Hopefully I'll be on the road again next weekend! Smile


That is not acceptable in any way. You should share the name of the shop to possibly spare another member that kind of service.
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chrismsnt
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

jAndrew wrote:
chrismsnt wrote:
Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'll be circling back to some who are local who'd like to potentially roll up their sleeves! Smile For the others who made recommendations, I appreciate that as well. My van sits at one of the "recommended" places. I'm not here to bash anyone... I just think that making an appointment 6-8 weeks ahead of time, dropping it off only to have to wait 8 weeks to have it looked at it sort of excessive. Hopefully I'll be on the road again next weekend! Smile


That is not acceptable in any way. You should share the name of the shop to possibly spare another member that kind of service.


I'm sorry if you find it unacceptable. I understand where you're coming from however my van is still up there. LOL Once I get it back and do the assessment, I then can cast my vote with follow up work or finding someone new. I'm not looking to slam a small business and potentially hurt their business. Hopefully you understand...
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jAndrew
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:22 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

I'm sorry if you find it unacceptable. I understand where you're coming from however my van is still up there. LOL Once I get it back and do the assessment, I then can cast my vote with follow up work or finding someone new. I'm not looking to slam a small business and potentially hurt their business. Hopefully you understand...[/quote]

Saying it's unacceptable for them to provide such poor service.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

The problem for a small specialty shop like a Vanagon shop or my own instrument repair shop is that restoration/rehabilitation projects often spiral into much bigger/longer/more time consuming jobs. Add in the COVID delay for parts availability and shipping and you've got a backed up repair space.

It happens to me all the time: an instrument for which I've allocated 6-8 weeks turns out to need 10-12 weeks worth of work; which puts me behind on every subsequent repair... At the moment I'm about 3 months behind - and buried in requests. There's no other person that I can sub any of the work out to, nor would my clients approve of that: they brought their instrument to me for a reason!!!

The more that people complain about the situation, the worse its going to get. If I get fed up and retire, they'll have to take their instruments to Seattle or Toronto, and I'm told that the wait time there for double bass work is in the 18-24 month range. Shocked
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chrismsnt
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:34 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

Jake,

That's not the case here. It hasn't been even looked at for 6 weeks; work isn't starting until the end of week 8. No parts needed to be ordered. However, I do understand where you're coming from.
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Steve M.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

Get a UHaul if you have too and get it out of there before they take it apart and forget how to put it back together.
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:20 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

What work are you trying to get done. If it’s service work that a problem. If it’s restoration work maybe not. Is the van n you drivable? Can you just go pick it up. We need to know this to give you any good advice. If it’s small work maybe someone here can help you out. If it’s restoration maybe you should use it of the summer and try again in the fall. John
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 8:31 am    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

chrismsnt wrote:
I'm having a HELL of a time trying to find a trustworthy and dependable mechanic for my rig.


What did they tell you when you dropped off the van? I guess that is a key factor if they're trustworthy and dependable. If they said they'll get right on it and your van will be ready in 4 weeks they're not meeting your standards for timing and delivery but they still may be 5 stars measured against your standards for quality of work which is a big plus nowadays.

These vans are becoming objects that require a highly skilled specialist (similar to Jake's double-bass instruments) or a truly committed hobbyist.

Good luck on the search. Eight weeks this time of year after a year of COVID seems like a lifetime.
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chrismsnt
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 5:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Vanagon mechanic - Southeast US (Georgia, TN, Carolinas) Reply with quote

My goal was to find a shop to partner with during the life of the vehicle which I own it. To that end, I wanted to find a shop to do the initial mechanical assessment (which I could pay for.. nothing is free!), come up with a list of most critical all the way down. Then start at the top and knocking out work. I knew two things I already needed to have addressed:
1. Diesel smell - change out fuel lines from aux fuel tank (rubber with fabric wrap which tends to go bad after 3-8 years)
2. Limp mode - I already knew going up a mountain drive in 3rd gear pushes it into limp mode. I had the codes and everything from the scan.

Their website was tailored to exactly this... doing mechanical lists and working off of them. I called them, told them what I knew or thought I knew needed to be done and then whatever else they could build the list on. They were busy and we scheduled 6-8 weeks out for me to drive it up there. I was having rotator cuff surgery and knew I couldn't drive for a minimum of 6 weeks. Thus, it wasn't a PRIORITY job as if I broke down on the road near them and needed it addressed yesterday.

Well, those 6 weeks flew by and didn't hear much. They had some personnel issues but they had plenty of slack time, in my opinion, to at LEAST do the assessment. Seven weeks (plus the month prior to just schedule bringing it in rather than a random drop off) and the initial assessment hadn't even been done. This is NOT a restore... all working mechanical. Quite frankly, one of my things I've thought about it just going up and pulling it out of there. It drives fine aside when the turbo is under high duress.

I've spoken to two individuals which have had their vans worked on there and they said they needed to ride them about getting their work done as well. So, I started calling and emailing saying when is this going to be addressed? As of right now, I got an all inclusive estimate (not a punch list of most critical to least) of things to be done on June 11th. I asked for a priority list and that took another week (till June 18th). At this point, I was told they'd do the work this coming week and will be able to pick up on June 26th.

I feel as I'm in a pickle because if I try to push them then I may get shoddy work. However, I feel that I've been MORE than fair with setting expectations on front end, patient in the middle and now it's crunch time with work not really being done. I'll update this thread when I pick it up. Currently, I'm just going to rent a car one way to drive it up to pick up. *fingers crossed*
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