Re: [T3] AT THE END OF MY ROPE!!

[Greg Merritt <gregm@vwtype3.org>]

<x-flowed>At 10:21 AM -0700 6/1/03, JBRIGS wrote:
> they say that everything looks new as far as the ignition parts. They
> ordered a new distributor, but they aren't sure what the problem is. I'm


	You mean, they don't know what the problem is, but they 
ordered the new distributor?  This will be about as helpful as new 
seat covers, if your distributor is not bad!

	They are not going to charge you for the distributor or labor 
if that doesn't fix it, right?

	I don't know about the smoke, but erratic misfiring can 
sometimes be attributed to bad electrical connectors at any of the 
four injectors, or a bad electrical connector on the trigger points 
in the base of the distributor.

	Really, though, if the shop can't diagnose the problem, you 
should try another shop.  If this shop is suggesting that you pay for 
random replacement parts, hoping to "get lucky" and find the culprit, 
then you can bet that the shop owner has a boat payment to make -- at 
your expense.

> starting to think that I should give up on this car. I'd like to fix it
> myself, but my experience is limited. Any advice??

	Given some time, a place to work, and the right tools, plus 
some manuals and this list, you can fix *anything* on your car. 
Really!  Also, nobody cares more about your car than you do, and most 
shops don't understand old VWs (let along the Type III).

	Where do you live?  Maybe a listee can help you in person.

Good luck, Joel!!
-Greg

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