So a lot has happened since this post.
Previously on A Boy Named Sue.... I had tried to pick up my car but it didn't want to start so they sent me off in an HHR...
The next day they said they had figured out the problem- supposedly the gas in my tank was rancid. They drained the tank and filled it up, I picked it up (this was on Friday) and only had to pay for the gas they put in my tank. The car didn't start right away- which made me nervous- but it started on the second try, so off I went.
At three the next day I tried to run to the post office and the car wouldn't start. NIAHD started the next day and all I could think was "how am I going to get to work?" and I started to get more and more upset- car problems can be overwhelming and this seemed to be my tipping point. I knew the service department was closed so I called Enterprise to could get another rental- but they closed at noon, so I called the rental place the dealership used and they also closed at noon. Now I was getting really upset. I finally called the general manager at the dealership that had been working on my car and explained my problem to him. He sent a tow truck over and I hitched a ride back to the dealership with my car and they gave me a used car to drive for the weekend.
I talked to the service manager on Monday and he told me to hang on to the used car while they figured out what was wrong with my car. I didn't hear from them again until Thursday when they asked me to come switch the used car- an Equinox- for another rental- an Impala.
I've been in the Impala since then. Basically they wouldn't call me for days and then I'd call and they'd tell me they couldn't figure it out, etc. etc. I honestly didn't care that it was taking so long- I was enjoying driving a car that started on the first try every time.
Well- today I finally got my car back - they changed the PCM (or ECM? I don't know something like that or both) and the ignition switch. They have tested it repeatedly and the problem seems to be fixed. (I should mention that they didn't charge me for either of these things- since they charged my almost $700 to change the fuel pump which was apparently unnecessary).
Keep your fingers crossed.
Showing posts with label paying too much and waiting too long to fix them. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paying too much and waiting too long to fix them. Show all posts
Friday, July 9, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
NIAHD
I am working for NIAHD (National Institute of American History and Democracy) this summer- and it started yesterday. We had our "opening ceremonies" in the brand new School of Business Building. I took a couple pictures, I should have taken more- the building is ridiculously beautiful- meanwhile the American Studies building is being de-aspestosized this summer. Remind me again- why did I go into the humanities?
I could use some of that Business School money about now- here's my car being towed away for the second time in a week...
Here's Rusty in yet another loaner car- he doesn't look too happy about it.
I could use some of that Business School money about now- here's my car being towed away for the second time in a week...
Here's Rusty in yet another loaner car- he doesn't look too happy about it.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Summertime....
I'm back in Virginia after spending a month in Utah. I hadn't expected to travel this summer but one of my sisters paid for me to go home as a congratulations gift for passing comps. I guess you could say I had good timing as my maternal grandmother passed away the day after I got there, I am very grateful that I got to see her and was able to be with my family. I am also glad I got to spend time with my cute nieces Mila and Bella and my new niece Sarah.
And now I'm back. It's always a little strange settling back in here in Virginia after being home- it's especially difficult now with the heat here! It's crazy! There is a heat advisory in affect, the special weather statement warns that heat illness is possible and urges everyone to stay in air-conditioning and to check on relatives and neighbors. Nice. I should have stayed in Utah.
But I didn't, I arrived in Richmond on the red-eye and got back to the 'burg around 10. I decided I should run errands before I slept for a few hours (I didn't sleep much on the flights). I've been having car trouble for a while and actually had it in the shop for a couple days about a month before I left but they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, we figured it was a problem with the fuel system so they put some fuel injection cleaner in the gas tank and I did too the next couple times I filled it- but it didn't seem to help. I was worried about it sitting so I had a friend start it while I was gone and she was having trouble the last week or so- well more trouble starting it than normal.
Anyway- I went out to run errands but it wouldn't start- the battery was clearly dead (the remote wouldn't unlock it and no lights turned on when I turned the key). So I called AAA and they came out to jump start it (it was the same guy who helped me the last time I had to call them- he is super nice), he couldn't jump it- the battery was so dead it wouldn't even hold a charge- he suggested I change the battery myself because it'd be a lot cheaper- well that's easier said than done. My dad suggested I call my apartment manager and ask if the maintenance guy would help me - I was sure they were going to say no, since it was a car problem not a problem with my apartment- I was wrong- the apartment manager came and helped my himself! He took my old battery out and drove me to the parts store (which was very close by) and put the new battery in- he was so nice, it was disgustingly hot and humid out (as I mentioned) and here he was leaning over my car and hauling heavy batteries around. Seriously, I never expected that they would be so helpful!
Unfortunately the dead battery wasn't the only problem. it still wouldn't start. It was clearly a different problem both the apartment manager and the maintenance guy agreed it sounded like a fuel system problem- which is what we had suspected all along and was what I was trying to deal with before I left. I couldn't get it to start after numerous attempts, so I called AAA again and they sent out a tow truck. After the hauled it away I rented a car and managed to finally run my errands- well half of them anyway.
The shop that had my car said it was the fuel pump, as suspected, and I needed a new one as well as a fuel filter, which would cost almost $700. Considering that my car has over 120,000 miles I figured I was due a major repair so I am trying to take it in stride.
I returned the rental car this afternoon and they (the kind people at Enterprise Rent-a-Car) gave me a ride to the dealership to pick up my car. I paid for it, walked out to get in and was told that it is still not starting, the advisor who pulled it up said she had a very hard time getting it started and then a mechanic tried to start it and it wouldn't start. The advisor (not the one I was working with- he was at lunch) offered to put me in a rental car for the day (after I said I didn't want to pay for another day)- so now I am in a different car- which the dealership is very kindly paying for- a HHR (an HHR, that sounds better). Yesterday I had an Aveo. One thing I've learned from this experience is that when I buy a new car (probably a used car) after my car finally dies I am pretty sure I will not be buying an Aveo or an HHR.
I still don't know what is wrong with my car now but hopefully the dealership will figure it out and will continue to pay for the rental car until they do!
And now I'm back. It's always a little strange settling back in here in Virginia after being home- it's especially difficult now with the heat here! It's crazy! There is a heat advisory in affect, the special weather statement warns that heat illness is possible and urges everyone to stay in air-conditioning and to check on relatives and neighbors. Nice. I should have stayed in Utah.
But I didn't, I arrived in Richmond on the red-eye and got back to the 'burg around 10. I decided I should run errands before I slept for a few hours (I didn't sleep much on the flights). I've been having car trouble for a while and actually had it in the shop for a couple days about a month before I left but they couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, we figured it was a problem with the fuel system so they put some fuel injection cleaner in the gas tank and I did too the next couple times I filled it- but it didn't seem to help. I was worried about it sitting so I had a friend start it while I was gone and she was having trouble the last week or so- well more trouble starting it than normal.
Anyway- I went out to run errands but it wouldn't start- the battery was clearly dead (the remote wouldn't unlock it and no lights turned on when I turned the key). So I called AAA and they came out to jump start it (it was the same guy who helped me the last time I had to call them- he is super nice), he couldn't jump it- the battery was so dead it wouldn't even hold a charge- he suggested I change the battery myself because it'd be a lot cheaper- well that's easier said than done. My dad suggested I call my apartment manager and ask if the maintenance guy would help me - I was sure they were going to say no, since it was a car problem not a problem with my apartment- I was wrong- the apartment manager came and helped my himself! He took my old battery out and drove me to the parts store (which was very close by) and put the new battery in- he was so nice, it was disgustingly hot and humid out (as I mentioned) and here he was leaning over my car and hauling heavy batteries around. Seriously, I never expected that they would be so helpful!
Unfortunately the dead battery wasn't the only problem. it still wouldn't start. It was clearly a different problem both the apartment manager and the maintenance guy agreed it sounded like a fuel system problem- which is what we had suspected all along and was what I was trying to deal with before I left. I couldn't get it to start after numerous attempts, so I called AAA again and they sent out a tow truck. After the hauled it away I rented a car and managed to finally run my errands- well half of them anyway.
The shop that had my car said it was the fuel pump, as suspected, and I needed a new one as well as a fuel filter, which would cost almost $700. Considering that my car has over 120,000 miles I figured I was due a major repair so I am trying to take it in stride.
I returned the rental car this afternoon and they (the kind people at Enterprise Rent-a-Car) gave me a ride to the dealership to pick up my car. I paid for it, walked out to get in and was told that it is still not starting, the advisor who pulled it up said she had a very hard time getting it started and then a mechanic tried to start it and it wouldn't start. The advisor (not the one I was working with- he was at lunch) offered to put me in a rental car for the day (after I said I didn't want to pay for another day)- so now I am in a different car- which the dealership is very kindly paying for- a HHR (an HHR, that sounds better). Yesterday I had an Aveo. One thing I've learned from this experience is that when I buy a new car (probably a used car) after my car finally dies I am pretty sure I will not be buying an Aveo or an HHR.
I still don't know what is wrong with my car now but hopefully the dealership will figure it out and will continue to pay for the rental car until they do!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Aggravation
Urg!
I took my car in for an oil change today and figured while I was there I should have them fix my fan- the heating/AC (and defrost) does not work unless it's on full blast. I went to the same place I went last time I had my oil change and my state inspection, even though they had forgotten about me and kept me waiting far longer than they should have. (They needed a part and sent for it- it never showed and no one checked on it until I came out about half hour after they said it'd be done- about an hour later they finally finished and I was on my way).
This time they told me it'd be about an hour, again, I gave them about a half hour longer and then went to check- they said it'd be another hour. I waited FOUR hours (total)- and then I went out and saw my car sitting outside- who knows how long it was out there. And guess what... they couldn't fix the problem- they told me I had to go to a dealership. The guy was nice enough to only charge me half of the diagnostic fee- but still- paying over $40 to have them tell me to go to a dealership seems a bit ridiculous. Perhaps I should try a different shop next time.
I took my car in for an oil change today and figured while I was there I should have them fix my fan- the heating/AC (and defrost) does not work unless it's on full blast. I went to the same place I went last time I had my oil change and my state inspection, even though they had forgotten about me and kept me waiting far longer than they should have. (They needed a part and sent for it- it never showed and no one checked on it until I came out about half hour after they said it'd be done- about an hour later they finally finished and I was on my way).
This time they told me it'd be about an hour, again, I gave them about a half hour longer and then went to check- they said it'd be another hour. I waited FOUR hours (total)- and then I went out and saw my car sitting outside- who knows how long it was out there. And guess what... they couldn't fix the problem- they told me I had to go to a dealership. The guy was nice enough to only charge me half of the diagnostic fee- but still- paying over $40 to have them tell me to go to a dealership seems a bit ridiculous. Perhaps I should try a different shop next time.
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