On 22 Jun 2004 at 9:34, John Rodgers <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET> wrote:

> Myers, Thomas A wrote:
>
> >    But until I have a garage to do it myself I will keep using  [ and
> >watching ] Jiffylube....
> >
> >
> >
> Tom,
>
> I do that myself on items I don't have facilities for. I study the
> Bentley, ask the list, to get really familiar with what has to be done,
> that way, I can direct the mechanic, and also check him that he is doing
> it proper. This is the next best protection short of doing it yourself.

This is good advice, especially on things like wheel alignment. I watched while a shop
did my '88 Westy when I got tires, and they seemed to know the vehicle fairly well. This
was after my last failed alignment at a shop in Calgary who told me they could do it,
then after said they could not get it into spec. KalTire in Langford, BC had no trouble.
Then recently I took my '85 Jetta to Midas for an alignment. I left it for a while thinking
they can't possibly screw up such a common vehicle. When I returned, the guy was
finishing up, and I asked why the camber was -1.5 on one side and +2 on the other!?
He told me it wasn't adjustable! I had to talk to the manager, and show him the strut
bolts (I had just put new struts in) and convince him to do it, but he whined about the
extra time involved (it took maybe 10 minutes, since he had to reset toe afterward). I'd
hate to try to get the rear alignment adjusted at a place like this!!

I would not trust any alignment now unless I see the numbers on the machine at the
end!

--
Shawn Wright
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
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