I have always heard that JR is a very good bet,and his shop is always
packed, but I guess I've been reluctant over the notion of vanagon
quirkiness. Yes, every vehicle has idiosyncrasies, but vanagons are
relatively scarce. Well, maybe not so scarce in this region. Anyway, it was
me, not the local mechanic, who finally found the cracked solder joint in
the ECU after 4.5 years of occasional issues.

FYI, John Nicols at the Unocal in town is a very reliable mechanic, and I
have always trusted him with my company rig and others. He's good, but I
still harbor this crazy notion of a vanagon mechanic. Maybe I'm just a
cheapskate, hoping for the perfect, most methodical diagnosis that will
result in the smallest bill. I guess that's one reason we do it ourselves.

Thanks for the input Jim. -Phil

On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 10:42 AM, Jim Cochran <mxsailor@gmail.com> wrote:

> Take it to Junior. I know he's expensive, but he really know his stuff.
>
>  On Oct 31, 2008, at 10:19 AM, Phil.C wrote:
>
> Thanks Jim. I'm up in Gualala, which is also 2 hours from Ukiah. -Phil
>
> On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 10:05 AM, Jim Cochran <mxsailor@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Try the Harmony Garage in Cotati.
>> Where do you live?
>>
>> Jim C
>> 86 Westy "Vanilla"
>> 71 Van
>> San Carlos, Mexico
>>
>>
>> On Oct 31, 2008, at 9:52 AM, Phil wrote:
>>
>> Vanagonians, I'm looking for mechanic recommendations in the Santa Rosa,
>>> CA
>>> area for my 87 westy. I have reviewed the list on RoadHaus and found only
>>> 1,
>>> with 1 review in 2006 -- a positive one for MB German. While 1 good shop
>>> is
>>> enough, I was just hoping to hear some confirmation or other recs.
>>>
>>> I do my own maintenance and light wrenching, and the van has been
>>> reliable
>>> and trouble-free in return, but it has a smog test in its future and I
>>> would
>>> like to have a more experienced expert at hand in the event of a no-pass.
>>>
>>> Speaking of emissions testing, I would also welcome any preferences for
>>> smog
>>> test shops in the Santa Rosa area. I'm 2 hours away on the coast, so my
>>> van
>>> has been exempt from testing over my 7 years of ownership. Thanks very
>>> much.
>>> -Phil
>>>
>>
>>
>
>