Monday, February 8, 2010

THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM.

Had the truck hauled up to the garage this morning. I told them, "Look, put the old battery cable end back on. This didn't all start until you guys messed with that." So the mechanic must've finally checked it out and discovered that was the root of the problem and he fixed it. When the service tech came to me, he said, 'We'll take care of the tow bills.' I said, "Fine, but I most likely didn't need that new starter either." He said he couldn't do anything about that. I told him to find someone who could. To which he replied, 'And who might that be?' To which I said, "That's not my problem, I would hazard a guess and say some one higher than you." So, I talked to his boss, the service manager, who told me 'We'll take care of the tow bills.' "OK, but I probably didn't need the starter." 'Well, the truck has 174K miles on it so you probably will need a new starter.' "Look, I didn't put new front brakes on it until 101K miles. I get 60K miles out of the tires. Put the old starter back on and refund my money." He says, 'I can do that, but you must then give us a chance to put a new starter on when this one dies.' (WT?) I tell him, "I can't guarantee that." Anyhow, ended up they are paying the two tow bills, I keep the new starter for free. I think he was concerned they were losing my business. Guess what, he was right!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

God I love it when the smart asses get egg on their face!!! It's a good thing you confronted them and got it straightened out.

HossBoss said...

Good for you, girl! A lot of mechanic shops don't give us women credit for knowing anything about an engine. I spent 6 years as an auto adjustor and a good many more years as a gopher while my son rebuilt one engine or another ...I know a thing or two and the fastest way for a shop to lose MY business is to tell me something STUPID thinking I won't know any better. I had the local Ford dealership try to tell me I need two new batteries for my diesel a couple of years ago. The two batteries that were in it were three months old. I had another vehicle in town with me when they called, so I went by, loaded up my supposed dead batteries and took them back to where I bought them to have them tested. They were at peak power. I went back to the dealership and was told "well, they both had dead cells yesterday but they sat on the cold concrete overnight and that must have recharged them." OMG, I said, "Do you really think I'm THAT ignorant about batteries???" Needless to say, the dealership gets to see my vehicle if theirs a recall ...but no other reason. They'll never see a dime from me again.

SHARON said...

Thanks for the up-lifting remarks girls. I had a wrench in my little hand when I was 3 years old, following Daddy around the shop. I have the knowledge of my father and the tenacity of my mother.
I had a 71 Ford truck with an automatic tranny in it. When it got to around 60K miles, I had the oil changed. The next evening there was a puddle under it. Called Dad, he said, "They've over-filled it and blew the seal." I took it back to the garage and told them, "I found a puddle of oil under my truck and........" "Well, now, how do you know its oil little lady?"(GRRRRRRRR) To which I replied.."BECAUSE ITS GOT A BIG T IN THE MIDDLE OF IT! YOUR GUY OVER-FILLED IT AND BLEW THE SEAL, I WANT IT FIXED!!!!!!!!" They did. I never went back. The garage I go to now was on thin ice anyhow. Last Oct I had it inspected. I hit a pot hole the next week and the truck started shimmying. Took it back and they had the audacity to tell me that the pot hole knocked the wheel loose! I told them, "Do not insult my intelligence, I was born in the morning but not this morning. The only reason the pot hole knocked it loose was because Paul didn't torque the lug nuts. How damn dumb do you boys think I am?" I usually have these conversations in the waiting room so everyone can hear them.

Anonymous said...

Hey...Hey, you ornery old blister, just because I admire spunky women, it don't mean I are one;-)

HossBoss said...

Ha! I laughed when I saw 'girls' in your reply to both of us, Sharon. But I cracked up when I read AKA's response to it.

@AKA...
That's kind of what it's like bein' called 'Rocky' when you ARE a girl, huh? LOL

SHARON said...

This is so bizarre, I just now read AKA's name for about the 16th time and realized what it says. My bad. And, I was called Rocky by a nice man I use to work with. Maybe I need to start wearing my glasses more! LOL Please except my apologies AKA.