One of the local area Texaco fast lube places did a number on my van.

I had jsut bought the "88GL I now drive. I want all the fluids checked,
and an oil change, new filter, and tranny checked and lube added as
necessary.

All seemed to go well. The lube crew running around looking busy. I
could see them from the waiting room. In a little bit the lead man on
the crew servicing my van came in with the completed checklist...oil
changed, new filter, tranny checked and ok, brake fluid level checked &
ok, etc, etc, While I was paying the bill, the van was brought around
front. I looked under the back end, saw the new filter, checked the oil,
and drove away........thinking the floor sure is dirty for that
vacumning item to be checked off the list. When I got home, I popped the
cover and looked at the filler tank for the clutch/brake fluid. A bit
low.....and that was checked off on the list. I was irritated. Obviously
was NOT checked. Didn't know where to look on a vanagon. But I  didn't
go back right away.

Two days later I went to my favorite mechanic for a check on a
mechanical item. Ever since I bought the van, there was a whine the
tranny and it was difficult to shift into first. I wanted it diagnosed.

The mechanic put it on the rack to begin checking things out. I forgot
to tell him I had just had the tranny lube checked. I just a bit he came
and said, "I checked to see if your tranny was had sufficient oil
because if it is low it will cause damage and whine. I could barely
touch the oil with just the very tip of my finger."

I was shocked! Told him it was just checked at the fast lube place when
the oil was changed.

He said, "Well, I've got news. That transmission plug has NEVER been out
of that transmission, EVER!"

I was stunned! I was furious! I had been ripped off!........and I did go
back to the fast lube joint with my verbal chainsaw and do a number on
the managers desk. End that part of the story.

The other part of the story was that the tranny was torn down, and
reworked. Shifted good after the repair, shifts better today as a result
of changing to Redline MT90 synthetic. Runs nice.

Lesson - I know who changes the oil, what goes in is to my
specifications, my filter that I provide (Mann of course) goes on, and I
watch like a hawk.

John Rodgers
"88GL Driver