What Scott said.  The shop I go to is excellent and they stop you from trying to do too much at once.  They realize it is inefficient, and I have found it more expensive when I have insisted on a few things at once.  I think I am paying for more down time.

And maybe find another shop.  The closest doesn't mean the best.  Filling a AC system with R12 doesn't sound like the right way to test for leaks.  Stripping a drain plug could also be a warning flag unless it wasn't their fault.

Figure out a better way to get your van serviced.  Stick a bike in the van and get some exercise riding home, or a moped.  Or get a lift, or find a shop that has a loaner car.  Finding an excellent shop is job 1 for a vanagon owner.

--- On Sun, 6/26/11, David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> From: David M <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
> Subject: Re: Vibration when radiator fan on high speed
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Sunday, June 26, 2011, 1:46 AM
> What you are saying makes sense,
> but...
> I had multiple things worked on at once because it is an
> extremely complicated and inconvenient for me to take my van
> to the (nearest) repair shop that knows anything about
> Vanagons. I live about 5-6 miles or so from the shop. To get
> there I drive my van, to get back I have to walk 1/2 mile in
> 110 degree heat, then wait for a bus that runs only every
> 1/2 hour. I take 2 separate buses (about an hour) , then
> walk another 1/2 mile back home. Picking up the van is the
> reverse, two 1/2 mile walks, 2 buses about an hour to an
> hour and a half traveling and waiting times. Most bus stops
> have no shade from the Arizona sun. The shop had my van from
> Monday AM to Friday AM, four full days.
> 
> -David ('87 Wolfsburg)
> 
> 
> --- On Fri, 6/24/11, Scott Daniel� - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
> wrote:
> 
> From: Scott Daniel� - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
> Subject: Re:� � � Vibration when radiator
> fan on high speed
> To: "David M" <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>,
> vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Friday, June 24, 2011, 6:49 PM.
> 
> I would, sincerely, be careful about doing to many repairs
> or changes at once.
> If it had been just the AC...
> you could just focus on how that's working and if high on
> the rad fan is right..
> ( many cars are wired so when AC comressor clutch is
> engaged, rad fan comes on ..
> though not on 'full roar' that I am aware of. )
> 
> so they worked on 4 main areas..
> AC
> emissions and oil change,
> shift linkage,
> and gas tank.
> 
> It's likely you would have better results if you didn't ask
> them to do those four areas all at once.
> 
> besides, in a regular car repair shop ...
> there isn't time to do it carefully and really truly
> right.
> You increase the odds of successs by not asking them to
> take on too many repairs or tasks in one visit.
> 
> if the goal on 'emissions' was to get within spec, and
> change the oil..
> that by itself would have been one thing to tackle in one
> shop visit.
> 
> now you have at least two problems..���i.e. it's not
> really done.
> Fan on 'full roar' may not be right ..
> and it doesn't go for beans when you tell it too.
> 
> they will even have to do a lot of explaining, or work on
> it some more. ..
> or you'll have to take what you have right now ..
> which doesn't sound satisfactory.
> 
> I'm serious too ..
> having worked 'in the trenches' countless thousands of days
> on 'regular ole foreign car repair ' ..
> it's not fun when there are issues to deal with on a car
> from one end to the other.� It's just more streesful than
> it is anyway .........like to have it done right by 5
> o'clock ...
> that's insanely hard as it is, never mind numerous issues
> to deal with all at once.
> It dilutes their focus.
> 
> keep it simple for them .....'what ah'm sayin.'
> and it increases the odds for success .
> 
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David M" <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 4:33 PM
> Subject: Vibration when radiator fan on high speed
> 
> 
> Just paid $1200 to have my van worked on (a/c fixed, fuel
> tank resealed, gearshift linkage, oil change, emissions).
> Mechanic said fan should be on high-speed whenever a/c is
> on, is this true?
> Now I notice a really bad vibration (can feel it thru
> pedals) when a/c fan is on high.
> Could this vibration have to do with fuel tank being
> dropped and re-installed?
> I dont know if fan was ever on high before but I never
> noticed this vibration back when the a/c worked before (10
> years ago).
> Also van now has no pick-up whatsoever, I press the gas
> pedal and it takes forever for me to take off.
> Regarding a/c all mechanic did was fill it with freon R12
> (3 1/2 pounds cost $262.50).
> It was $400 in labor to do the gas tank with me supplying
> the kit of parts.
> The oil change cost me $106.50 because the drain plug
> stripped and labor to install a helicoil was $80.
> I have to take van back on Tuesday for them to check if any
> of the valuable freon has leaked out.
> Its so frustrating that whenever I take my van in to be
> worked on., it always comes back with the original problem
> fixed but with a new set of problems appearing!
> 
> -David (1987 Wolfsburg) 
>