Well, crap - DPChallenge Forums

10/26/2006 06:53:28 PM · #1

For those of you not following along at home, on Tuesday, my car decided it wanted to shut itself off, while driving. I didn't find this a particularly palatable behavior, nor did I feel it was, in fact, a very safe behavior.

Wednesday morning I took it to the local (insert car make here) dealer to be looked at and repaired. I described the problem: when I started the car, all sorts of random warning lights, bells and whistles came on. This isn't that unusual for this car as it's always had wiring harness issues. Well, after driving about a mile, more lights, more dings, so I pulled into a parking lot, and it simply shut itself off. Restarted it, and all was good.

Nice guy at the dealership service department said "probably a battery issue". I signed the "yeah, I'll pay $80 so you'll look at it" piece of paper, and caught a ride to work.

Later that day, I call and he tells me "the PCM needs updating, something (I forget what) was corroded and needed to be cleaned, and the coolant housing was cracked and leaking". Total damages - $500. Go for it, I tell him. Though to be honest, none of the above sounded like it would fix the initial problem, but I am not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV.

At the end of the day, I call - they need to keep it overnight because a "cylinder head under the coolant housing is pitted and we need to fill it". (What the hell are cylinder heads doing under coolant housing?) Fine. I get a ride home from work, and arrange for a ride in.

Today. I call. It's ready, I can come pick it up. I arrange for a ride to the dealership. Get the car, drive back to work. Drive over to the base bowling alley for a fundraising afternoon of good, old fashioned bowling fun. Drive back to work to drop off a coworker, then headed to a craft shop to look at frames. Didn't find what I wanted at that one, drove home. Left the car in the driveway, because I figured I'd get the picture I wanted to frame and head to a different store. Got back in the car, it won't start. Nothing. No lights, no cranking sounds, no nothing. Dead. Doornail dead. Except.... the CD player is flashing it's lights on and off trying to eject a CD which is permanently embedded inside of it. This is with the key out of the ignition, by the way.

I call the dealership. The service guy says "it's probably a battery issue". I say "Didn't you guys check that out in the first place, in response to the initial issue?" "Oh, I'm sure they did!" he says. He told me to call their towing service and they'll come get it. "But ohbytheway, Enterprise closes in 20 minutes so we can't get you a car. Can you get a ride to the dealership in the morning and we'll see if we can find you something to drive?"

Phuque.

I tell the guy I want to hear from their used car guys because I would like to sell them this car. About 10 minutes later, a used car guy calls, but has no interest in buying the car if I don't want to buy something else in return.

And I still have no way to get to work, no way to go shoot this evening, and no way to get back to the dealership.

I did, however, have a great time bowling this afternoon.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM for Canon

10/26/2006 06:56:09 PM · #2

DMAN Bummer Deb. I hate dealerships. I love the use of the new word I just learned Phuque!

What did you roll? :-)

coronamv

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/26/2006 06:57:55 PM · #3

Hey what make car so I dont buy one. thanks

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

10/26/2006 06:58:27 PM · #4

Originally posted by coronamv:

Hey what make car so I dont buy one. thanks

It's probably a Ford. ;o)

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/26/2006 06:59:37 PM · #5

Uh oh, you need Brad! Sorry about the run of ickies with the car, Deb.

10/26/2006 07:03:10 PM · #6

Chrysler.

I do so wish they'd spin off the Jeep line, since I still like those.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/26/2006 07:04:59 PM · #7

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

DMAN Bummer Deb. I hate dealerships. I love the use of the new word I just learned Phuque!

What did you roll? :-)

Best was a 181, worst was a 153. Didn't have my ball or my shoes - they're on the way to Germany. I won't mention that it was nine pin no tap, so those scores really aren't that good....

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/26/2006 07:07:04 PM · #8

Originally posted by Melethia:

Chrysler.

I do so wish they'd spin off the Jeep line, since I still like those.

If you recall, we were driving a 1993 Jeep on the Cape, and it was working just fine, thank you :-) You can take heart in knowing you're soon to be in Germany, where they still know how to make cars...

R.

10/26/2006 07:07:43 PM · #9

Originally posted by Melethia:

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:
DMAN Bummer Deb. I hate dealerships. I love the use of the new word I just learned Phuque!

What did you roll? :-)

Best was a 181, worst was a 153. Didn't have my ball or my shoes - they're on the way to Germany. I won't mention that it was nine pin no tap, so those scores really aren't that good....

Not bad ... I like No Tap. I love bowling!

fotomann_forever

10/26/2006 07:12:01 PM · #10

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

You can take heart in knowing you're soon to be in Germany, where they still know how to make cars...

Isn't that nice German engineering what got Chrysler into makin' the crap they do today... LOL j/k

10/26/2006 07:18:35 PM · #11

And while I'm ranting, and in a wicked nasty, nasty mood, I'll bring this back 'round to photography. In the last 10 challenges, I've scored below the 50% mark six times. That's 60% of the time I'm below 50% of the competitors here.

I am a proud member of Team Suck, and deservedly so, but I'd still like to know what it is I need to do to be reasonably (above 50% at least half the time) competitive in this joint. Learn more PS? Move to Iceland? Give my camera equipment to Timfythetoo and live vicariously through his ribbons? What?

10/26/2006 07:23:43 PM · #12

It has been mean in the voting around here lately. My only advice Keep on Keeping on. That's what I am doing. Maybe we should just go back to SP's ...

alfresco

Nikon D700

10/26/2006 07:39:43 PM · #13

The Frickin Man is bringin you down Deb :(

If you want I can swing by and teach your doody-car a lesson with new bat* :)

Or maybe the frickin mandud who 'fixed' it?

*I can't afford a real bat, it's a whiffle bat. :(

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/26/2006 07:50:39 PM · #14

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

It has been mean in the voting around here lately. My only advice Keep on Keeping on. That's what I am doing. Maybe we should just go back to SP's ...

Nah, I don't want to look at pictures of me anymore, thanks.

And the scores aren't the problem - it's the percentages. No matter how you look at it, I still end up below 50% whether or not the scores are high or low.

cryingdragon

Canon EOS-10D

10/26/2006 07:52:30 PM · #15

I'm with ya, Deb. No luck for me either...but I'm staying in the bottom 80%.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

10/26/2006 07:54:12 PM · #16

You know, one way to look at it is that every healthy ecosystem needs bottom feeders. :-) We serve a very important purpose here at DPC - we keep the top 50% from sinking into the mire!

Oh, and since I'm in such a good mood and can't go anywhere, I think I'll go vote on a challenge.... mwhaaaahhaaahaaahaaa!!!!

Message edited by author 2006-10-26 19:55:36.

cryingdragon

Canon EOS-10D

10/26/2006 07:55:37 PM · #17

True, we're good for the DPC ecosystem, but I'd rather be bad for it...lol

alfresco

Nikon D700

10/26/2006 08:09:50 PM · #18

Originally posted by Melethia:

Oh, and since I'm in such a good mood and can't go anywhere, I think I'll go vote on a challenge.... mwhaaaahhaaahaaahaaa!!!!

YEah!!!!! Go trolling Deb!!!! WOOooohooo, that always picks up my spirits :)

10/26/2006 08:22:16 PM · #19

I don't troll. I never give anything lower than a 4 if it remotely meets the challenge. But since I really am totally and thoroughly depressed at the moment, I'll kindly resist from scoring challenges. Instead I shall concentrate on just how totally and thoroughly depressed I am, then go to bed early. After all, it's a long phuquing walk to the dealer in the morning, in the dark, with all that traffic....

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

10/26/2006 09:05:14 PM · #20

Originally posted by Melethia:

Learn more PS? Move to Iceland? Give my camera equipment to Timfythetoo and live vicariously through his ribbons? What?

Hmm - let me think about that one. ;D

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

10/26/2006 09:19:56 PM · #21

Serious question - unless a miracle occurs and the mechanic has a "voila!" moment, I cannot sell this car. What are my options? Is it just junque, and I have it hauled off? Can I sell it for parts? Is there any recourse to recoup any money out of it whatsoever, or am I just phuqued? (It's out of warranty, of course.)

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

10/26/2006 09:31:47 PM · #22

I think some used-auto-parts yards (junkyards) will pay something for dead cars. They can sell the parts then, or scrap them, or whatever. After one of my friends totaled her second car (don't ask) the local junkyard gave her $200 for it. It's not much, but maybe better than nothing...

10/26/2006 09:33:34 PM · #23

Actually, I can pass on the $200. If it weren't for the fact I'd probably get arrested, I'd like to have it hauled to the middle of the deserted parking lot and set it on fire. Just think of the photo op.