Kate-

While I have not had to shop around for this myself, the cost he is quoting
is WAAAAAAAYYYY high. The tranny cost isn't so bad, I seem to recall a
couple of our dear list vendors selling their remanufactured trannies at
$2,500.

What is REDICULOUS is the $2,500 in labor!!! Even at $60 an hour this comes
out to more than forty hours enough time to mine the minerals, smelt the
ore, cast and forge the pieces, and make a new transmission from scratch.

If removing and replacing a Vanagon Tranny were an Olympic event, you could
see times of 15-17 minutes for a two man team (with lots o' practice). I
reality, it shouldn't take more than a couple hours.

Run screaming from that shop!!!!

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Kate McLaughlin [SMTP:KateMacMac@WORLDNET.ATT.NET]
Sent:   Wednesday, May 26, 1999 10:16 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Huston we have a problem

I was driving home yesterday, and all was well. I was taking it easy in
3rd.  As traffic moved on I attempted to shift to 4th, but my VW didn't
want to shift.  She liked 3rd so much, she decided to stay there.  This
morning I had my sick Vanagon towed to a place that "only works on
VW's".  Well I mechanic wanted to put in a new transmission.  I asked
him for a quote.  He told me he called the dealer, and it would be
$3,000 for the trans and $2,500 for the work.  In the past I have have
had the engine rebuilt.  The trans was fine until last night, not a pop,
grind, or leak.  So here I am no VW.  I'm leery about putting in a new
trans.  The mechanic said that it would be easier and cost less if we
popped in a new one, maybe easier for him, not for me $$$.  Has anyone
ever had this happen to their Vanagon?  The mechanics haven't opened her
yet. They put her on the lift and that was it.  I have heard that there
were some problems with the gears breaking in the model.  It's an 86.
My poor Stella.  I miss her already!