Phil,
I was replacing engines in my Westy because it kept burning holes in
the head around the  spark plug. On a lark, I called JR on the phone
and he told me it was a bad ground strap. He was right. No more head
replacements.

I, for one, do ALL my own work in Mexico because nobody here knows a
thing about waterboxers.
I've had Jocko up Ft Bragg do all my air-cooled buses because he knows
them well.

Nobody takes care of their Westies like the owners, though.

Jim

On Oct 31, 2008, at 3:20 PM, Phil.C wrote:

> 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
>>
>>
>
>