Just got back from Midas after taking my 84 Westy in to have a loud exhaust
noise checked out.  The manager says the exhaust pipe before the "heat
sensor" is rotted out (imagine that after 22 years!), & that Toyota says
they are NLA, & very expensive!  No Sh#t Sherlock!

 Nice guy, but when I assured him the vehicle was made by VW, he tried to
reassure moi, that Toyota also made one!  In any event, he then called VW to
get one, but couldn't accurately describe the offending part to VW so they
were gonna fax him a cut sheet of the exhaust system so he could tell them
which part we needed!

Dam, I know I should run run run from these clowns, but should I have the
local VW dealer replace it?  They have been almost as idiotic as the Midas
guys, & I avoid them like the plague.  Is this a VW dealer only part or do
any of our list friendly vendors carry the oem parts that I can install or
have my favorite vw mechanic do it after I break off the studs?

Pax,

Tom B.-& just after I "bragged" that my vanagon went 6400 miles w/o any
issues!