Leaky radiators and fat guys.

June 07, 2009, 10:04:50 PM

So it seems, as fast as I can fix one thing on one car, something else goes on the other.

So I haven't had my SC on the road for about 4 years. I've kept it running, and moved it at least every month. So its always fired right up. I am planning on getting it on the road and driving it, so I finally had the windshield replaced (it was broken). The e-brake cable broke and is now on order. Now, I just noticed the radiator is whizzing all over the pavement. (great) Now I am off to find a new radiator.

Two weeks ago my gf said she wanted to drive the 84 rabbit I resurrected from a garbage heap from Texas to Minnesota. The rabbit then decided it was going to have its radiator munch up the AC Condenser. It took me two weeks to install the new parts, flush all the fluids, and finish all the nit-noid stuff. (So far shes averaging 30+ mpg).

Friday, she took the rabbit to a repair shop who was supposed to align the front end (i just rebuilt the entire suspension). They pushed the car out and told her it was finished, she tried to get in and drive it, but it wouldn't shift. They denied doing anything to it and screamed at her till she was in tears for accusing them of "trying to swindle" her. They forced the stick shift out the bottom of the car. (2 Fat Guys in San Antonio, never ever ever go there)

They offered to "do her a favor" and "look at it for free" but she would have to pay for parts. They then spent an hour with 4 guys looking at the the bottom of the shifter. None of which could figure it out.

She called me in tears (she is supposed to drive this car across country the next day). I told her to have them push it out, pay them nothing and have AAA tow it back to the house. They pushed it out into the lot and told her "they got it into first", and she "would probably make it home".

I left work and showed up just as the tow truck was getting ready to haul it. I reached under the car, and popped the shifter back into the ball socket in under 20 seconds. I jumped in and it shifted through all the gears easily.

I tried to figure out what happened by finding the fat manager that yelled at her. I wasn't yelling yet, I was trying to be real calm. He said she called them all "F@#$@ing Idiots" (which she didn't). I just wanted to know if they just leaned on it and it fell through the bottom of the car, or if it really was a scam. The fat jerk started telling me to "leave, I am calling the police to have you arrested" and just kept repeating that.

At this point I started getting angry and said "look, I just want to know how one of your grease monkeys managed to shove a shifter through the floor while trying to do an alignment"

Then, a real professional looking (skinny white tattooed work of art) came raging out of a car screaming "You call me a monkey, I WILL F!$# YOU UP. I WILL BEAT THE LIVING OUT OF YOU! I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU" The manager just said "He will do it, I'm calling the cops!"

I told him to "hit me" and the manager slammed the door on him. He proceeded to scream and bang at the window (inside a customers car mind you) At this point, I called them all "real professional" and left. What a scam.

For about 4 weeks now, my newly built cougar engine has been patiently waiting on the stand. I think the world is conspiring against me ever getting the cat done.

The real funny part about the rabbit episode is when the manager told her "we dont need your business". She looked around and said "obviously you do, its the only car in the lot!" Thats when he totally lost it. Since the episode, we found a bunch of comments online about people getting screwed there. Now there will be a couple more.

I just needed to blow off some steam.

Leaky radiators and fat guys.

Reply #1 – June 07, 2009, 11:19:47 PM

Sounds like if all you had to do was pop the shifter back into it's socket, you got away lucky. They could've ripped apart the transmission...

AND...you got away without getting killed, arrested, or having the beat outta ya

You should feel shame about being the last customer that shop might ever have and all

Seriously, I feel your anger...but at least you (and the car) got outta there in one piece

BTW, I feel your pain on getting the favored project done. Mine is STILL sitting on blocks...awaiting the goled HO to be dropped in...