My dad bought me a 1997 Buick LeSabre in December. He paid way too much for it, but it is a really nice car. It has over 200,000 miles on it now. The last thing dad said to me before he drove back home was, "Be sure to get the oil changed regularly."
Now, hoping to be a rather obedient child, after I had put 3000 miles on the car, I went to a Valvoline place and had the oil changed. Being naive about cars they tried to sell me a bunch of services I just didn't need. Anyway, after spending $40.00 there, I went home, piddled around, picked the kids up from school. Then I drove about 5 miles to the public library to get the kids to focus on homework as opposed to television.
As I was driving home with children in tow, I heard a noise. I was driving by a construction site so I thought something had probably hit the car. What do I know? Well, the battery light came on, and using the analyzing skills that God provided me with, I deduced there was something wrong with the electrical system since the car was still running. My kids, pre to early teens (2) were saying, "We ought to stop." I didn't. I was so put off. I figured it was something the people at the Valvoline place had done.
Anyway, I drove about 10 miles or more with no power steering, no power brakes, everytime I stopped the car died and was a bear to start up again. Every warining light came on, but I ignored them. The overheating light came on, and as I just had paid the men at the Valvoline place to put radiatior fluid in and fluid in the overflow resevoir, I knew that light couldn't be right.
The oil light came on and I KNEW that was wrong. I mean, they had just put 5 quarts in the dang thing.
Needless to say, my not so good judgement is costing me a rebuilt engine.
As it goes, the 3 mechanics, Pete, George, and Angelo would not even pick up my car from my regular mechanic, Ron, until after they received a hefty "deposit". Seeing as how I can't afford a whole lot, my dad, (knight in shining armor that he is) sent the check. But I was already a week without my car by this time.
My mechanic said Pete would be working on my car and that he was good. Ron said the car would be ready in about 2 weeks. Ron told me the total price but said the price could be higher if there were any other parts that needed replacing, such as water pump, intake manifold, etc. So a week after Pete had my car, I called to see how much more it was going to cost so I could get my dad to send the check so I could have the car as soon as it was ready. They put me off for over a week telling me to call them tomorrow. Turns out they had the car for 3 weeks before they even started to work on it. That is why I am so mad. It was supposed to be done a week ago Friday, and then this past Friday. It was explained that there were about 5 or 6 cars ahead of mine, which I would have dealt with if they had told me that upfront. They also explained they had problems with one of their mechanics (which is their problem and not mine). They explained the parts didn't get shipped overnight. And now, unless Pete dies, I will have the car on Monday. A whole 3 and a half weeks after they picked up the car. And I was told it would only take 2 weeks. ARGH! And that is why I want to break their kneecaps.
