Call his bluff and force the issue.  Don't stop until you are satisfied
that everything is proper.  You think of the service manager as a friend,
but he obviously thinks of you as a sucker, just another g**d*** customer
taking up his valuable time with your silly complaints.  (Whew!!  I feel
better, now.)

Jack Bateman,
Oshawa, Ontario - Canada

----------
> From: Ron Clayton <ronclay@ldd.net>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu>
> Subject: who knows?
> Date: Saturday, July 12, 1997 11:15 PM
> 
> This is one of those questions that I could as easily put to my
therapist,
> if I had one, the car guys, if I could ever get an open line, or you
lucky
> stalwarts of the Vanagon list!
> 
> here goes, it's auto-psycho-sociological: opinons please!?
> 
>        I have a reasonably good relationship with the dealership service
> department where I purchased my Vanagon new, six years ago.  I know,
that's
> mostly because I mostly, quietly allow them to fleece me about once every
> six months.
> 
>         Lately, every time I have some little thing done, they leave some
> part of the job undone!  This last trip was worse! I had the front brakes
> done and drove the 100+ miles home only to discover that my chrome lugs
had
> been switched for black ones! chrome on the back, dingy black on the
front.
> There were no other Vanagons in the shop that day so I thinking the swap
> was intentional, and I'm really steamed.  Never the less I call the
service
> manager whom I think of as a friend, and suggest that a mistake has been
> made.  He gets a little huffy and sez it could not happen, no other vans
in
> the shop that day and Vanagon lugs are unique to Vanagons, must have been
> that way when I brought it in. I know that's not the case.  I washed the
> van two days before: chrome all around.  Now I'm not only angry I'm
> worried!  What if these are not the correct lugs and they were just
forced
> in?  I might be in danger of them breaking or coming out because they are
> stripped.  Will I have to buy new hubs?  in the face of the service
> manager's denial do I force the issue over eight lug bolts or just order
> new ones for one of the suppliers on the list and then find a new
> mechanic??
> 
> thanks for any advise any of you can offer.
>