yup... you're right Richard...

and buy 2 each part if possible... just in case... :-)

On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 4:38 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

>  Get everything fixed than needs fixing while parts and mechanics are
> still around.  Plain and simple.
>
>     On Friday, March 17, 2023 at 03:17:14 PM PDT, David McNeely <
> davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  Of course, the young ones are not interested in learning Vanagons (or any
> particular "obsolete" vehicle).    It just doesn't make economic sense from
> their standpoint.  There are lots of Toyotas, Fords, modern VWs ........ .
> Few of our old vehicles.  Heck, I even found that the local junior college
> auto tech program won't take in any vehicle over five years old.  That
> includes my Toyota Prius, which is why I found out.
>
> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 11:51 AM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > *"And from my perspective, would the person servicing it be capable?"*
> >
> > Well... they will say they are capable because they have the Bentley book
> > on the shelf... and the real capable mechanic is busy jumping from one
> van
> > to another to help solve the problems...
> >
> > I have a story... my daughter was travelling recently with her '90 tintop
> > from Oregon to Arizona. In Tucson a little rubber hose connected to the
> > thermostat tower blew. She found a shop in Tucson and waited for 3 days
> to
> > have a spot for repairs. They replaced the hose and some other
> unnecessary
> > stuff. On her way back to Oregon, some hundred miles north of Tucson, the
> > coolant light blinked (not overheated). I told her to check the coolant
> > level in the expansion reservoir, it's very low (they didn't bleed
> > properly)... she filled it up. Some hundred miles later, the same thing
> > happened. I told her to check the level every morning before hitting the
> > road. She happened near the GW store so I told to get a new blue cap and
> > have the cooling system bleed well. No one had a spot for her and GW
> didn't
> > do it. So I have to instruct her how to bleed over the phone and email.
> She
> > did it with the help of her boyfriend. They made it home safely.
> >
> > So... yes... There are still some good mechanics with experiences on
> > vanagon out there... BUT... how many young ones want to learn to replace
> > them after they are gone?
> >
> > On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 11:03 AM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> In part, this is a matter of "aging out."  If these folks are to stay in
> >> business, they must hire young folks into their shops.  There just
> aren't
> >> enough old folks who know our vehicles still around.  Just this past
> week,
> >> I tried to set up a shop visit for my camper.  Best shop locally by
> >> reputation is one called European Auto Haus.  Best tech there used to be
> >> "Obie," who was trained in Germany on VWs back in the day.  He was
> super.
> >> But Obie of course could not work forever.  He had to move on to
> >> retirement, well deserved.  Sadly, European Auto Haus responded by
> saying
> >> that there are six Vanagons in shop currently for work, but none of them
> >> will get serviced before summer, and that they could not promise a date
> >> for
> >> my van earlier than
> >> August.  And from my perspective, would the person servicing it be
> >> capable?  mcneely
> >>
> >> On Fri, Mar 17, 2023 at 10:52 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > The recent post about why do you purchase from Amazon reminded me of
> the
> >> > good old days of purchasing from our venders like Vanagain.  One of
> the
> >> > best things was that I could ask questions about the products
> especially
> >> > about correct fit or how to install.
> >> >
> >> >        I realize that now, Ken is the only vender that I can still do
> >> > that with.  He is incredibly generous with his time.  I really don’t
> >> know
> >> > how he does it and runs a family business as well.
> >> >
> >> > In tech emergencies I have called Ken and he has answered the phone
> and
> >> > helped.  Last time was when a friend was helping to install Ken’s
> power
> >> > steering rack. It was a simple thing but we would not have figured it
> >> out
> >> > without Ken answering the call.
> >> >
> >> >        I try not to call unless I need to.  Another time when a friend
> >> > was here we were stuck and called Dennis.  And sure enough he talked
> us
> >> > through the problem.
> >> >
> >> > In the old days I used to talk to folks at Bus depot, but though I
> >> really
> >> > appreciate the business, and I hope to drop in to visit one day, the
> >> folks
> >> > on the phone can’t help with issues, as they don’t know VW buses.
> And,
> >> > sadly the site is very hard for me to use. They do however, have a lot
> >> of
> >> > great bus items and nice to have them on my coast!
> >> > Van Cafe, was great before it was sold.  Peter and others there talked
> >> me
> >> > through many part installations.But, that ended.
> >> >
> >> > I even once got tech help from GW, but they don’t seem to do work
> there
> >> > any longer. Though to be fair, They were very helpful in emailing
> >> > information back about specific products like how to update the engine
> >> > management system.
> >> >
> >> > So, I really appreciate that Ken sends out help videos, has useful
> >> > articles and info on his site, and I don’t know how he does it, but
> even
> >> > answered the phone and gave help directly.
> >> >
> >> > I do miss the days of calling the different venders to make orders,
> and
> >> > get personal direction on the products.
> >> >
> >> > I think they mean well, but other then Ken I don’t think vanagon or VW
> >> bus
> >> > people answer the phone, or can directly assist.
> >> >
> >> > Hang in they're Ken.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Eric Caron
> >> >
> >>
> >
>
>