If People Would Just Listen

Have you ever had to take something in to be repaired or serviced and NO ONE will listen to what you are telling them?

Yesterday, I took the new pickup to the dealership to see if they could figure out why it was running 20-30 degrees hotter than it had been. Also, I explained, VERY CAREFULLY to the guy at the counter that anti-freeze was disappearing. I've already had to add about 1/2-3/4 of a gallon. This should not be in a brand new pickup. Anytime anti-freeze is disappearing and you cannot find where it is leaking out, there is a good chance your engine block is cracked and that is NOT a good thing.

Did he listen to me?

Apparently NOT!

Cause when I went back a few hours later to get my pickup, I asked them if they found anything wrong with it and they said "Yes, your transmission line is leaking."

Ummm...Okay?? How exactly does that affect the temperature of the thermostat, I ask the guy.

He looks at me puzzled. It doesn't.

So I have to go into everything ALL OVER AGAIN with this guy, the above normal temperature, the missing anti-freeze and the fact that I never said ANYTHING about a freaking leak. I have never seen anything leaking out from under this pickup.

Gahhhhhh!!!!!

So, they take it back into the shop and pressure check the radiator and within a few minutes find a loose hose clamp where the anti-freeze was leaking out, right on the manifold, so of course there would be no leak under the pickup.

They tightened the clamp, filled the anti-freeze. Can't explain why it's running hotter than it did before, but computer wise, everything checks out.

Okay then. I explain to them that I do not want to have to drive 200 miles just to have the new transmission line put on, can any GM dealer do it? The answer was Yes.

Thank God!!!

And then they try to charge me $75 for servicing it. Ummm....No, I say, I handed the same guy, who apparenently did not listen to a damn word I told him, the servicing coupon that gives me free services on the pickup for the first 100,000 miles(as much as that sucker cost My Honey, they damn well better have thrown in some freebies).

Now mind you, the whole time I am trying to explain everything and they are looking for the missing coupon, this jackass is standing right there, but refusing to acknowledge that I am talking about him or that I even gave him the damn coupon.

I was Pissed!! And I made sure they ALL knew I was pissed at HIM. Everyone else was very nice and trying to be very accomodating. I hope he got his ASS chewed after I left.

Now, I have long gotten over thinking that service people save particularly poor attitudes and lack of attention to detail for us females. I know of way too many guys who have gotten taken and HARD by mechanics. The fact is not a lot of people have the time or the inclination to work on their own vehicles anymore...and these new ones? Sheez-it's more about being able to read the computer diagnostics than knowing mechanics. I pop the hood on anything newer than about a 95' and I'm like, "Yup, that's the engine". But in reality, even the newer engines run on the same principles as the old ones. So if you know the basics, it makes it much harder for mechanics and crappy service people to sell you a bill of goods that makes no sense.

Gee-wonder why GM and all the other car companies are in trouble? Their service sucks!! That guy is lucky I didn't quit smoking yesterday, I might have went kamakazie on him-LMAO!!!

And cause I know I am not the only hot rod buff, this sweet little number went blowing by Chris and I as we were going through Kansas City...


Lordy, where is my drool cup?

There was more to our trip than just NY-I just haven't been able to sit down and write up the posts yet. I'll get to them.