Dylan,

While I can't recommend them for customer service, there is a technician at Larson?? VW in Tacoma that owns a vanagon. He was helpful when we were temporarily stranded there by a siezed alternator last August. I have his email address at home and can get it to you if you want. We were heading home to Anchorage when the alternator died on I-5, and had the van towed there just to get it off the highway. He helped me switch the pulley over to the new alternator, and offered other assistance as I swapped it out in the parking lot. As we were traveling, and on a time schedule I would have purchased the alternator from them and have them change it if their Parts Department had been willing to try a little harder to get one. They told me that they could not even get an aftermarket Bosch reman. until the next day, and it was only 11:30am on a Monday morning. I borrowed their phone and phonebook, and had one delivered to me in their parking lot within an hour and a half.

Do you know when you will be coming up? I know of a couple of vanagon owners headed this way come summer, including one from Eastern Washington, maybe some of you could meet up somewhere. If you have any problems near Whitehorse I recommend John's Auto, they are the local VW/Audi guru's and will do everything they can to get travelers back on the road again.

Mark in AK
87 Westy Syncro

----- Original Message -----
From: Dylan Kahler <dkahler@UPS.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2004 5:06 pm
Subject: Was: coolant hoses Now: Mechanic search

> Hey Volks,
>
> I'm planning a trip up to Denali and the Alaska region in my '85
> Westy,and am looking for a good mechanic in the Tacoma, WA area to
> inspect/tune up to be sure all is ready to hit the road come June.
> Anyone know of a particular shop that knows Vanagons?  Anyone had
> experience with anyone great in my area?  I brought my '85 up from
> Redding (Northern) California this January and haven't found a
> suitableshop yet.  Thanks all!
>
> Dylan
> '85 Westy Campmobile
>
>
> On Mar 9, 2004, at 4:48 PM, developtrust wrote:
>
> >> Below you will find my "2 cents worth" on this thread.
> >>
> > Just remember MacGyver, bring lots of duct tape and rubber
> gloves then
> > in an
> > emergency you will know what to do. And before you go on a long trip
> > do the
> > sensible thing and have a mechanic (OR YOU) inspect the van for what
> > needs
> > doing, and do it.
> >
>