Car Wash fiasco
10-17-2014, 01:32 PM
#21
Racer
10-17-2014, 04:13 PM
#22
Le Mans Master
10-18-2014, 06:06 AM
#23
Safety Car
Oddities
I can appreciate the issue with the parking brake, it took me a little while to figure out how to release it when I bought mine. It was at a car auction and once purchased it was mine with no directions and no manual. Figure it out I did, but it took a few minutes.
Reminds me of another incident that happened many years back. I worked at a parking lot, you pulled in and left your car and I did the valet thing and parked it. I was young and car smart (or so I thought) till one day an Avanti pulled in. Gave them their ticket and went to park it. Problem was the headlights were on and be darned if I could find the switch. I probably spent 20-30 minutes looking for that darn switch. I finally unhooked the battery cable so the battery wouldn't run down. When they came back I explained my dilemma and advised them what I'd done. He laughed and showed me the light switch was in a small console on the roof (the one place I hadn't looked, hadn't even noticed it had a console up there). Made me feel rather sheepish and we had a good laugh over it. Over the next year, he came in a few times with the Avanti and each time would tease me with the question if I remembered where the headlight switch was (all in good fun). His normal driver was a 67 GTO and that one I had down pat.
I guess all I'm saying is when in doubt, tell them. I've done that with my mechanic as this was the first C4 he'd worked on.
Reminds me of another incident that happened many years back. I worked at a parking lot, you pulled in and left your car and I did the valet thing and parked it. I was young and car smart (or so I thought) till one day an Avanti pulled in. Gave them their ticket and went to park it. Problem was the headlights were on and be darned if I could find the switch. I probably spent 20-30 minutes looking for that darn switch. I finally unhooked the battery cable so the battery wouldn't run down. When they came back I explained my dilemma and advised them what I'd done. He laughed and showed me the light switch was in a small console on the roof (the one place I hadn't looked, hadn't even noticed it had a console up there). Made me feel rather sheepish and we had a good laugh over it. Over the next year, he came in a few times with the Avanti and each time would tease me with the question if I remembered where the headlight switch was (all in good fun). His normal driver was a 67 GTO and that one I had down pat.
I guess all I'm saying is when in doubt, tell them. I've done that with my mechanic as this was the first C4 he'd worked on.
Last edited by hcbph; 10-18-2014 at 06:09 AM.
10-19-2014, 11:44 AM
#24
Race Director
10-19-2014, 09:33 PM
#26
Team Owner
A number of years ago I had my Jeep Cherokee (which I valued as much as most guys valued their 'vette's) at a MonroMuffler shop for an oil change.
Normally I did them myself but things were hectic and there was no line waiting when I drove by so I pulled in.
Anyway, after just shy of an hour I look to see what in he!! is taking so long and there is no one even near my Jeep, which is still up on the lift with the oil dump can still underneath.
So I call the manager over and ask what is going on. He tells me that the parts boy is out at the local Jeep dealer getting a part for my vehicle.
I then ask "WHAT part? He responds by saying that my Oil Pan had rusted out around the threads where the plugs goes in.
That's when I asked him if he had a mirror. He looks at me funny and says "a what?" I repeated myself and said " A mirror, because I want to see what it is you are seeing. Because I know that I wasn't born yesterday! AND, if you think I'm paying for a new oil pan which your guy must have cross threaded the plug on trying to get the plug in your nuts. If there had been a problem he'd have know the moment to tried taking it out." That's when I went into the shop and picked the plug off the lift arm and sure as hell the threads were chewed to ****.
Still have it in my took box as a reminder to stay away from these places.
Then the dick had the nerve to think I was going to pay the oil change bill after waiting over 2 hours......
Normally I did them myself but things were hectic and there was no line waiting when I drove by so I pulled in.
Anyway, after just shy of an hour I look to see what in he!! is taking so long and there is no one even near my Jeep, which is still up on the lift with the oil dump can still underneath.
So I call the manager over and ask what is going on. He tells me that the parts boy is out at the local Jeep dealer getting a part for my vehicle.
I then ask "WHAT part? He responds by saying that my Oil Pan had rusted out around the threads where the plugs goes in.
That's when I asked him if he had a mirror. He looks at me funny and says "a what?" I repeated myself and said " A mirror, because I want to see what it is you are seeing. Because I know that I wasn't born yesterday! AND, if you think I'm paying for a new oil pan which your guy must have cross threaded the plug on trying to get the plug in your nuts. If there had been a problem he'd have know the moment to tried taking it out." That's when I went into the shop and picked the plug off the lift arm and sure as hell the threads were chewed to ****.
Still have it in my took box as a reminder to stay away from these places.
Then the dick had the nerve to think I was going to pay the oil change bill after waiting over 2 hours......
10-20-2014, 09:28 AM
#27
Le Mans Master
When I bought my '88 I got a big discount because the salesman and the mechanic couldn't figure it out. They told me the brakes were bad and locked on and even had the brake light on. I didn't tell them, but I got a steep discount and there was no problem when I released the e brake.
10-20-2014, 12:06 PM
#28
Team Owner
Way to go ! ! ! 
It pays dividend$ to read the manual,
even if you're only a lowly salesperson .....
It pays dividend$ to read the manual,
even if you're only a lowly salesperson .....
A lot of people have problems with the e brake. I had the same problem at a smog check in AZ with my '85. He stalled it a couple times, then basically did a full throttle start and smoke was coming out. I came unglued and came out of the little room screaming at them.
When I bought my '88 I got a big discount because the salesman and the mechanic couldn't figure it out. They told me the brakes were bad and locked on and even had the brake light on. I didn't tell them, but I got a steep discount and there was no problem when I released the e brake.
When I bought my '88 I got a big discount because the salesman and the mechanic couldn't figure it out. They told me the brakes were bad and locked on and even had the brake light on. I didn't tell them, but I got a steep discount and there was no problem when I released the e brake.
