bueno bob
10-22-2012, 04:57 PM
OK...saga time...
I have a van (shut up) and we recently got back from a week long extended vacation in Vegas, and we drove there and back without incident. About a week after we got back, we started having transmission problems and within about two weeks afterwards, I needed to take the van into the shop for a new transmission. Not cheap, but necessary.
So, I took the vehicle down to our local repair shop and dropped $3319.00 on a new transmission, parts, labor, everything. It took them approximately two days to do it.
I got the vehicle back, and it had a problem of lurching whenever I came to a complete stop (slowing to 1st and then braking fully). Wouldn't let up after several days of driving, and it wasn't a problem I was having before, so after a week or so, I took it back to the shop, figuring it needed a minor adjustment.
Got the vehicle back, and things were fine, except the lurching problem was still there. Called them back, told them things were still wrong with coming to a complete stop, and they said "Well, bring it back, it's under warranty."
So, for the second time, I bring it back. This time it takes them about three or four days to fix it, and when I get it back, they wax poetic about all the new parts and improvements they've done. Whatever; I just want to be able to drive my vehicle and give it two-three weeks for the computer to adjust to the new transmission and be ready to NOT go back anytime soon.
So, within two hours, it's lurching heavily between all the gears, lurching when I come to a complete stop and half the time, when you turn the key, the engine won't roll over and start at all. I call them back, tell them there are still problems, and explain what's going on - they tell me to bring it back because it's under warranty, they're going to fix the starting problem because it's part of the overall failure; I think, "OK, fair enough."
I take it back, get it back within a few days, and things are OK, but it's still lurching when it comes to a complete stop. Getting to be a repeat pattern. So I think, well, let's give it some time, but at least the rest of this crap's mostly resolved. So we drive out to Eastern Oregon to go visit my sister last weekend, and when we're going through the mountains right before Sisters, the check engine light comes on, it won't accelerate up into overdrive and we basically have to limp it the rest of the way and back home. The check engine light eventually goes off, but it's got zero power getting over the hills. In addition, that Monday, the engine goes into it's "I'm not gonna start" bit and my girl & kid end up stranded for a half an hour before it finally rolls over.
I take it back last Tuesday, tell them it's getting kinda old. They reply by replacing the entire transmission (or so they tell me) and test driving it for two days (or so they tell me) to make sure "Everything's 100% and this is the LAST time" I'd have to go back.
I get it back Friday night (they were already closed by the time I get off work, and I walk in the rain out to get it from the parking lot). I manage to drive across the street before I realize that, yes, there are STILL serious problems. The engine won't start again, and when it finally does, it's lurching through all the gears, and I manage to drive about ten minutes before the check engine light comes on and it won't shift out of 3rd gear. I get it home and decide that I'll attempt to limp it around town for the weekend and deal with it on Tuesday.
So, throughout the weekend, the check engine light goes off and it actually starts shifting fairly well, but it lurches at a complete stop and it shifts extremely hard between 1st & 2nd. I call them back on Saturday to keep them posted of the situation. They apologize (again). Tell me to bring it back (again). But this time, they tell me that the reason it isn't starting all the time is because the ignition switch is fucked, and I'll have to pay more in order to get it fixed. And it's also gotten to the point where, if it does start, now it won't entirely turn off every time without me shifting through the gears to make sure it's fully in park.
So, taking this narrative down to it's basic point, WTF???
This is going to be the FIFTH TIME I've had to take the vehicle back to them in order to get it "fixed", and I'm getting pretty sick of it. The warranty aspect is nice, but it's also completely flippin' useless if I have to take the damn thing back to them week after week after week after week....and now, all of a sudden, I have to make MORE repairs for something that hasn't been a problem up til now?
Needless to say, I'm a little put off.
Anybody have any idea about what kind of recourse I may have here? I spent, in good faith, $3300.00 expecting a good, clean, comprehensive, one time repair and while I fully expect that the onboard computer is going to need SOME time to adjust to a new transmission, all of these problems are FAR above and beyond what I ever would have reasonably anticipated. I'm getting to the point where I'm convinced that they're just utterly incapable of doing the work correctly and now I'm suspicious that they're actually CREATING new problems in an effort to keep me spending money there.
I'm at the point where I'd pretty much like to take the vehicle to another shop and get the work done elsewhere, but I'm not exactly made of money and can't really afford to just say "Eh, scratch this" and take another $3300 out of my finances.
Any thoughts?
I have a van (shut up) and we recently got back from a week long extended vacation in Vegas, and we drove there and back without incident. About a week after we got back, we started having transmission problems and within about two weeks afterwards, I needed to take the van into the shop for a new transmission. Not cheap, but necessary.
So, I took the vehicle down to our local repair shop and dropped $3319.00 on a new transmission, parts, labor, everything. It took them approximately two days to do it.
I got the vehicle back, and it had a problem of lurching whenever I came to a complete stop (slowing to 1st and then braking fully). Wouldn't let up after several days of driving, and it wasn't a problem I was having before, so after a week or so, I took it back to the shop, figuring it needed a minor adjustment.
Got the vehicle back, and things were fine, except the lurching problem was still there. Called them back, told them things were still wrong with coming to a complete stop, and they said "Well, bring it back, it's under warranty."
So, for the second time, I bring it back. This time it takes them about three or four days to fix it, and when I get it back, they wax poetic about all the new parts and improvements they've done. Whatever; I just want to be able to drive my vehicle and give it two-three weeks for the computer to adjust to the new transmission and be ready to NOT go back anytime soon.
So, within two hours, it's lurching heavily between all the gears, lurching when I come to a complete stop and half the time, when you turn the key, the engine won't roll over and start at all. I call them back, tell them there are still problems, and explain what's going on - they tell me to bring it back because it's under warranty, they're going to fix the starting problem because it's part of the overall failure; I think, "OK, fair enough."
I take it back, get it back within a few days, and things are OK, but it's still lurching when it comes to a complete stop. Getting to be a repeat pattern. So I think, well, let's give it some time, but at least the rest of this crap's mostly resolved. So we drive out to Eastern Oregon to go visit my sister last weekend, and when we're going through the mountains right before Sisters, the check engine light comes on, it won't accelerate up into overdrive and we basically have to limp it the rest of the way and back home. The check engine light eventually goes off, but it's got zero power getting over the hills. In addition, that Monday, the engine goes into it's "I'm not gonna start" bit and my girl & kid end up stranded for a half an hour before it finally rolls over.
I take it back last Tuesday, tell them it's getting kinda old. They reply by replacing the entire transmission (or so they tell me) and test driving it for two days (or so they tell me) to make sure "Everything's 100% and this is the LAST time" I'd have to go back.
I get it back Friday night (they were already closed by the time I get off work, and I walk in the rain out to get it from the parking lot). I manage to drive across the street before I realize that, yes, there are STILL serious problems. The engine won't start again, and when it finally does, it's lurching through all the gears, and I manage to drive about ten minutes before the check engine light comes on and it won't shift out of 3rd gear. I get it home and decide that I'll attempt to limp it around town for the weekend and deal with it on Tuesday.
So, throughout the weekend, the check engine light goes off and it actually starts shifting fairly well, but it lurches at a complete stop and it shifts extremely hard between 1st & 2nd. I call them back on Saturday to keep them posted of the situation. They apologize (again). Tell me to bring it back (again). But this time, they tell me that the reason it isn't starting all the time is because the ignition switch is fucked, and I'll have to pay more in order to get it fixed. And it's also gotten to the point where, if it does start, now it won't entirely turn off every time without me shifting through the gears to make sure it's fully in park.
So, taking this narrative down to it's basic point, WTF???
This is going to be the FIFTH TIME I've had to take the vehicle back to them in order to get it "fixed", and I'm getting pretty sick of it. The warranty aspect is nice, but it's also completely flippin' useless if I have to take the damn thing back to them week after week after week after week....and now, all of a sudden, I have to make MORE repairs for something that hasn't been a problem up til now?
Needless to say, I'm a little put off.
Anybody have any idea about what kind of recourse I may have here? I spent, in good faith, $3300.00 expecting a good, clean, comprehensive, one time repair and while I fully expect that the onboard computer is going to need SOME time to adjust to a new transmission, all of these problems are FAR above and beyond what I ever would have reasonably anticipated. I'm getting to the point where I'm convinced that they're just utterly incapable of doing the work correctly and now I'm suspicious that they're actually CREATING new problems in an effort to keep me spending money there.
I'm at the point where I'd pretty much like to take the vehicle to another shop and get the work done elsewhere, but I'm not exactly made of money and can't really afford to just say "Eh, scratch this" and take another $3300 out of my finances.
Any thoughts?