From what I understand, the nuclear-strength Alldata information system
is a very expensive service subscribed to by auto service firms, such as
your independent local shop.It may be on line, too. I am not sure.  I
have seen a service manager access one in San Antonio when I had to have
a CV joint and half axle replaced in an emergency.  It contained the
nitty gritty on the procedure, as I remember the occasion. I thought
that I was buying THAT service for my Vanagon when I purchased the
$20.00 item.. Obviously, it was not, and I certify that opinion when I
taste the thin soup served on the CD I have.. You get what you pay for.
Caveat emptor.

Tom Hanlon
Palm Springs, CA
84 Westy

Kent Christensen wrote:

> This thread inspires thought on what must happen when some
> poor guy at an independent repair shop (not a VW specialist,
> say) encounters a Vanagon.  He dials up and pays his $20
> bucks to activate the Vanagon portion of the CD (which will
> be on your bill somewhere) and then deals with the lack of
> good information that's been discussed here.  Neither this
> guy (these are Alldata's main customers don't you suppose)
> nor his customer will be well served, it appears.
>
>  We all know the moral to the story, and this thread is
> great in that it airs this out.