I hate Cars

Let me tell you about the biggest consumer rip off I've experienced to date.

I bought a car Monday. A 95 tauraus with 91,000 on it for 800. Tuesday, the engine started to steam, and finally perculated like a god damn coffee pot, because the ass who sold it to me filled the coolant tank with straight water. So I pulled into Pep Boys, and they said it was probably my fluids, so they'd tuna diagnostic and change out my fluids and made me an appointment for wednesday.

I paid $374.45 for a fluids flush, an il change, and a new radiator. Assumed me carwas safe, and drove it home. Less than a day later, it started to make a sound. So we pulled over, and the tank was still boiling. So we pulled into Valvoline Instant Oil change on S. Salina, and asked the guy to check if I did or did not have a new radiator and fluids. My fluids tested NOT safe, and my radiator? Had not been changed. I paid all that money for an oil change.

So i went back to the shop, screamed that i wanted a manager, showed him the write up that the man at valvoline did for me STATING that as another mechanic, the dluids were not changed, the radiator was old and the car was not safe. So he didn't even ask to see the car, didn't protest, just said all i can do for you right now is refund you all this. Meaning this kinda shit is ****ing common. So they refunded my money, today were taking the car to valvoline to have the honest mechanic that wrote me a statement even though he didn't get paid, change my fluids and hook it up to the diagnostic computer so i can get a list of problems,, and tomrrow morning my papa is gonna fix whatever's wrong with it for me.

SO ****ing mad. I made josh go back and give the Valvoline guy $5 and Bryan took Kay and I to the park because i need air or i was going to explode, i was furious. So i have the receipt from pep boys, the statement from the manager, the receipt of refund, and I'm calling the News. Making a consumer alert. So if i'm on the news, someone has to tape me being a consumer bitch for posterity.

so, don't go to them and tell everyone you know not to. Because that's just disgusting. So I wrote to Channel 10, channel 9, channel 5 and the post standard.

That ought to suffice. At least one will call, likely channel 9 or 10. Works for me. I'll let you know if anything comes of it. My father thinks it's the thermostat. He say it's a $3 part, some goop and some time, so im driving down there tomorrow morning to take care of it. I love my daddy.

 

A good mechanic is hard to find. An HONEST mechanic is even harder to find. I lucked out. I have a guy who is awesome! He never BS's me, and only fixes whats wrong. He knows I like to do a lot of work myself, so he weill tell me exactly whats wrong...if it's something I can't handle, he does it.

Your first mistake was buying a Taurus! Sorry, but you should've posted something here before buying, and we'd have helped steer you to something decent.

It probably is just a thermostat. It's pretty simple. Your Pop should be able to do it in like twenty minutes.

I'd be pissed too! I hate those chains. I would NEVER take my car to a Pep Boys. I wouldn't let one of those punks check the air in my tires, let alone anything else.

Ask around for reccommendations on a good mechanic, and one you find one, stick with him! Cherish him and send him a Christmas card every year!

Just stay away from the Dealership. Their mechanics are no better and they'll charge you twice as much.

Good luck!

PS- Feel free to post any car related questions, especially before forking over a lot of dough. I'm a gearhead in my spare time, so I'd be happy to help.




-Steve

 

i was having a wistful memories of childhood moment... Aw, shit, truth be told it wasnt my ****ing idea and im unbelievably pissed that i allowed myself to be talked into the whole thing and I affectionately refer to the damn thing as my arch nemisis.

MA, i might get another car next year, I'll probably give you a call. I put my foot down, next time i find it myself instead of trusting anyone else.

 

Not to be intentionally sexist or anything but I wonder if the original mechanics thought you were just a pretty face... or do they just rip anybody off.

 

wasnt me they sold the car to. I would have said no. I had a bad feeling about the ****er, but stupid me i footed the bill. I get my stupid points for that, because whenever i get a bad feeling, i'm right and the guy i left in charge is none too bright.

Anyway, Valvoline flushed the radiator, and the car stopped overheating. The fluid was straight up DIRTY so if that was all it was, yeah. But my car was onemodel too old to use the diagnostic machine, so they sent it to Goodyear free to do a NYS inspection. If the car passes the inspection i can pay for the sticker if it doesnt they'll make me a list to take to my father's, but either way I'm replacing the thermostat.

See, getting my money back, alerting the media and causing a scene is what I did in this whole thing, so from now on the pretty face is in charge because you don't **** with a redhead. But I still hate cars.

My personal goal in this was to buy a car at auction, something dependable and foreign... but no.. "trust me, this car is awesome and the guy says theres nothing wrong with is at all, but it's first come first serve and we really need it. c'mon it's fine!"

I knew from that statement alone the car was goingto be a ****ing disaster. I wish i'd put more spine into myself before things blow up instead of when i end up cleaning up the mess... I guess i hate cars and me.

 

I'd have to strongly disagree there! lol I've had 3 Taurus's....and they never let me down. 2 were bought used, one was new off the lot. One of my Taurus's had 180 thousand miles on it when I sold it and another well over 300 thousand....the odometer conked out after 320 thousand (cable rusted) and I drove it for about 6 months after that.

Sure any car can be a lemon mechanically and there are those that obviously don't do well in safety tests too, but I think it's unfair and misleading to say it was a mistake to buy a certain type of car UNLESS it's a car that's been pulled from production due to severe problems.

@ Wenchie...Would I buy another used Taurus? Absolutely! But what I would do is the same as I did before when I bought used. Insist on the maintenance records..no records?....see ya! Take it to a mechanic I trusted to go over it with a fine tooth comb. Drive it in various traffic conditions to see how it performs in addition to finding a nice bumpy road to drive it on. Do my research! Have there been any recalls and if so have they been taken care of? How does the car rate in safety tests? Blue book pricing would be checked and the car's history re: has it ever been in a wreck, etc. There are good used cars to be had...just gotta do your homework before you buy Wenchie! And don't take the word of one person who says 'go here' to get a car...you get a name from someone you trust that's GREAT! but still take the time to check out the person/dealer who is actually selling the car and ask around to see what other peoples experience has been in dealing with the seller. Be prepared and KNOW what you are talking about...to many idiots out there who will jump at the chance to take advantage of the situation because you wear a skirt...figuratively speaking of course

I would also suggest you file a report with the BBB in your area if you didn't buy the car from a private individual.

 

I did buy it from a private individual. Bleah... It's my first car, so i was unprepaired. My step-father's taurus lasted 15 years before he sold it still running, so i thought it would be okay.. no rust or anything, just white (ick, white). My insurance was mind bogglingly low, made all my friends super jealous. $70/month, beat that!

just annoyed. have had it for 4 days, had the overflow tank boil over, been told the coil springs wont pass inspection by the people that ripped me off. BEEN ripped off, had to take it elsewhere... but it seems like all that was really wrong with it is the fluids, and some noise in the engine that sounds like a belt to me that my dad can fix no problem for the cost of parts... no labor. The only thing he wouldnt be able to do was the radiator flush that the nice man that wrote the statement did for me for $60.

After I get over my annoyance with it, it might be a decent little car. But it wasnt my idea or me who picked it, so dealing with all these issues with it has made me harbor a less than slight grudge towards it. After i figure out where im moving i plan to save up, paint it metallic green with purple flames, and vanity plates that say Renate. Then i may appreciate it more.

blah.

 

Also doing a VIN check is nice to.

 

Then consider yourself lucky! I've NEVER heard anything good about them.


Here is an awesome article for anyone who is thinking of buying a new or used car from a dealer:
http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article.html

Well worth reading, and it will make you absolutley hate auto dealers. I will only buy used cars, and only from private party. I agree with AbbeySue about maintnance records and going over it with a fine tooth comb, but would like to add one more thing...get a CARFAX! Totally worth it!


-Steve

 

My last car was a Taurus, drove it for 11 years and almost 300,000 miles before I traded it in. They are good cars. Just have to do your maintenance as scheduled and take the car in for recall work when you get the notice.

 

looks like propaganda. I mean, theoretically considering i didn't, all you need it knowledge of the car you want, and a mechanic to go with you.

 

That bites Wenchie..I bought a camero once from a guy I knew for a long time and trusted...it turned out the car had not been taken care of. I took his word for it that the car had been taken care of and he just didn't keep records of his oil changes and what not...didn't even take it to my mechanic because I 'knew' this guy...I'll never make that mistake again.

I'm really sorry this has turned into a bad experience for you but I just bet you'll be better prepared next time huh?!

Oh yeah...I like the metallic green paint idea....green is my favorite color..I dunno about the flames though...just not my style

LOL...that's not surprising really...I have heard bad stuff about them too from others I know that have had them...difference being I take very good care of my cars as far as regular maintenance, following up immediately on recalls or alerts and getting things checked out right away if something is 'off' be it a noise or it's handling a little different. I think driving habits definitely enter into it too..if you are an aggressive driver or do things with the car that it's not built for then they have no one to blame but themselves.

In most cases based on my experience/observation (unless the car has been listed as a lemon) those that say they had a certain kind of car and it's a piece of junk have in fact not followed the manufactures recommended maintenance (make and model doesn't matter) and have not had the car checked as soon as a 'possible' problem has come up...people in general tend to disregard 'little' noises or changes in performance telling themselves they'll 'keep and eye on it' or put off getting it checked until they have more time. Big mistake in my opinion/experience. Kinda like some of these young kids who are working so hard to make sure they are deaf by the time they are 30...they don't 'hear' the little noises and then wonder why when that fuse to the sub-woofer blew they can now hear a loud grinding noise coming from their engine...just before it dies completely...lol Poetic justice? Maybe

 

I always stand over the mechanics as they work on my car, if it is something I can't do myself. If they are honest then they won't mind. If they are up to no good it's fun watching them think they can get away with stuff with "only" a woman next to them. It's such fun picking them up on th errors they are making and watching their chin drop to the floor *grins*

 

See, that should of been my first clue, they told us we werent allowed back there with our car... They're just shady, and I hope one of the news channels runs the story.

 

They always tell me that too Wenchie, and it is true....."for insurance liability purposes".....but I follow them out anyway

 

Yes, with used cars, the maintenance done properly and regularly is the key. But having said that, some cars are inherently designed better than others. What constitutes "better" will depend on the use its intended, type of driver, and personal taste.

In your case, Wenchie, looks like you basically got played for a sucker, I'm afraid. Some people tend to think that women can be played for a sucker even more than men, which makes it all the more annoying.

I have had that boiling over problem before and sometimes you can flush the radiator and engine block out yourself, and then replace the thermostat. Other times, you may need it to be 'power flushed', which, if the radiator's on the way out can be sad, because it might make a few leaks in very weakened areas.

I unusually get the Auto club, Like the A.A.C., or something to do an extensive and independent check before buying an automobile. As M.A. said, it's only about 40 or 50 bucks, and is worth it i.m.o. - even if you know someone who knows about cars etc, because the auto club has all the gear and stuff for testing anyway. And with the point by point report, you know exactly what has been looked at.

Still might be a good car, as you say Wenchie, but I can't blame ya for being ticked off at the rip-off artists.

 

well, CP, not yet, i have a driver, but soon. I'll call you up one of hese das and ask if you have pants on. means im outside. muahahaha....

and urns out it stopped boiling after the radiator was flushed because of the amount of DIRT in the friggin engine. two mechanics both said it looks good, just needs spring coils and new struts, and a ball joint, all of which my dad is helping me with today so all i need are bought parts.

not too bad, just pissed, he so lied.

 

CP. I don't think that will save you...

And you missed when the antifreeze overflow tank exploded in the tops parking lot, and there was wretched foul smelling smoke/steam and green ooze everywhere... i hate this ****ing car.

Well, I took the car to my dad, bought the parts to fix it, and he started to fix it... but when he got the tire off on the passenger side to get the struts off (struts and coils need replacing in the front) the bolt was rusted on there so tightly that 4 cafstmen tools split and broke. So he couldn't get it off, and it was a waisted trip

Now i need to find someone with a power wrench to pay for labor to do it for me and I have no ideas. I'm kinds ready to scream. Anyone local got a guy whose reputable I can call? I have all the parts, just need labor.

 

the ****ing thing is out completely to not work. first the pep boy thing happened, then i took it to my dad, and got all the parts, on the way the overflow tank literally exploded, and my dad went to fix the car and the bolt holding the struts ON is rusted on there so tightly that it needs to be power tooled off, so he couldn't fix it, and i have to spend even more money to find someone who will do the labor and has the tools, not ony that im on a fixed budget because im out of work and was prepairing to move, this whole thing has been an unantipated $2000 expenditure, the money i saved to move is fast running out, and I have no place set TO move barely enough money to do it now, and only till the end of june to DO it with noplace decent in a safe area that I can find, and i'm so stressed out I want to cry.

 

That sucks Wenchie. Getting a car is supposed to be something to celebrate, but getting the wrong car, particularly a high-mileage used wrong car, can be a nightmare.

It's good that your dad is willing to help out as much as he can. I hope you get the problems sorted quickly and cheaply, and that there aren't any more surprises waiting.

 

if there are im parking it broadside on the highway and letting insurance take its course

 

Sounds like you have pressure building up in your system, is your head gasket ok?.....ask a mechanic to check it out
Tip..next time it needs to go to a garage get your dad to take it, he seems to know about cars so they won`t try & rip him off like they would a woman.

 

Can't recall if you bought from a dealer or private, but if from a dealer, you could probably go back pissed and yelling, and you might get your $$$ back. If you have a loud obnoxious friend, take him/her with you


-Steve

 

If I was closer, I'd go with you. I'm an expert at consumer satisfaction. Believe me...businesses HATE a disastisfied customer who is yelling and shouting obscenities, and telling other customers about their dissatisfaction. I once knocked over a display in a Best Buy one time because they wouldn't refund my money for a pair of speakers. I though they were going to call the cops, but instead refunded my money 100% and told me to just get the hell out! Man, I felt good after that!


-Steve

 

all right evilevets what do you know about 1999 Cavalier Rally Sports? Have a friend who wants to sell me his (and yes, because our son wrecked his mom's car we need a new one) for $1500.00. It is in decent shape but has 237000 miles (yes I said 237000). Almost all are highway miles, going to check the compression tomorrow evening and engine sounds very tight. Drives nice, air and heat works. Has CD player, PS, ABS, Dual Airbags, Sunroof, 2.2 litre engine, rally sport wheels. Can't remember if there is anything else or not. Believe it to have had only the synthetic oil in it. Have heard that that engine is traditionally a good solid engine and is known to last up to about 400,000 miles if taken care of properly. Please let me know if you know anything about Cavaliers in general to make me steer away from it. BTW the Kelly Blue Book is from $2500 to $3000 for it. Private owner but he IS a car salesman (although he is from our small group at church).

 

There are two points I think I should mention about that car Wraith, 1st why would a car salesman sell a good private use car? is he expecting trouble soon?
& 2nd how long do you think the engine will last with that kind of miles on it when your son gets hold of it, especially a car with RALLY SPORTS in it`s name, I`m sure in his mind a car with that written on the back will be just begging for it ( a damn good thrashing lol).Well thats how I used to think....eerr & still do in fact

 

I should just set fire to the whole thing with my mind and be done with it but i try to save my evil for people not inanimate objects.

 

Wenchie, what is wrong with the struts and shocks that you need to replace them? If they are not broken then don't replace them right now. Return the parts and get your money back. Replace them when you can afford it, or if it becomes necessary. If one is broken then just replace it right now. The engine is probably a 3.8L, renowned for head gasket problems. This COULD be a problem for you. It's about a ten hour job and parts $100-$150?? If you have head gasket problems it may run rough on startup, will burn white smoke out the tailpipe, and may cause your cooling system to overheat and even blow your overflow. Be sure your dad checks the thermostat first. If you need help let me know. Ford's are my living.

 

The coil snapped on the right side and the car sits 5 inches off the ground in the front. they need replacing. The horrible sound i've been experiencing has made ise;f known as the water pump, which i already have and can get switched out.

it's just possessed. really it is, it's hell bent on not working and i think it rusted that bolt on purpose, i mean breaking a solid steel tool up the side is pretty hard to do for the freaking thing to not even budge. The engine is a 3.0 and my father doesnt think theres anything wrong with the head gasket because theres no fluids mixing. He thought of that too.

 

No smoke, starts easy... just makes a really awful scraping sound and the car only overheats on idling. The sound is only when we stop and then start again and can be calmed momentarily with wd-40. I have the water pump sitting in my trunk too.

MA referred me to a guy that said he might be able to help me with the struts and my father will do my water pump. he left it to see if it was the thermostat or the pump and it worked without overheating for days and days until we drove it all over hells half acre and then idled it, the sound started after the thermostat was changed out too... meaning now the car knew it was getting hot, was trying to fix it, and th water pump was just crapped.

It's just that, he told me it's at least 4 hours work and he charges $60/hr for labor and if that bolt gives him big problems, it may take longer or need to be cut off and the hardware replaced which requires a part order and an over night keeping of my car and i have no idea how i would get home from B-ville or did i really have the money to pay for it.

 

Any word on the news story? I figured local news would eat that kind of thing up. In Lansing, MI the local news goes nuts with the consumer alerts. Consumers need a way to relay their dissatisfaction with other consumers-- especially in a local area.

 

No actually, not a peep... maybe they didnt check their email, i'll probably call.

 

3.0L didn't have head gasket problems, it's a good engine. Overheating at idle only is almost always the electric cooling fan. When your driving air naturally flows through the radiator. Whenyour stopped you need the fan to do this. It will only run when engine temp requires it, or if AC or defrost is on. Unfortunately this is electronically controlled, so is tricky to diagnose. I would recommend the Ford dealer or knowledable tech to diag. Iknow tricks to shortcut diag if required. If the bolt that won't undo attaches the strut to the knuckle then remove the whole works as an assembly and replace the spring that way. A bit more clumsy but cheaper than removing the bolt. If it's front struts and springs only then 4 hours is too much. Again, I can give you more info but will take some time so if you need it let me know and I will post it when I have time.

 

Can you? then I can take it to the mechanic and tell him what i need done.

 

Yes I can do that. I will need to get a couple of diagrams to you, I'll post them here if they are legible. Can you find out which bolt you can't remove from the strut? I'll get this on later tonight, because I'm at work right now and they expect me to work and not mess around on the computer. Go figure.

 

Wenchie, I need more info. Is the AC/heater ATC or manual? Manual will have a blue to red bar for temperature control, while ATC will have numbers with the bar, or an electronic display. Tomorrow night is hottub chess so I won't have the info until the weekend.

 

Holy cow! Brilliant! I see a plan forming... me versus some females. Nevermind... sorry for the threadjack. Mods, please delete the post.

 

So, it wasnt the water pump, it was the A/C pump. I took my daughter to the beach, and on the way we stopped to get drinks and the car never started again.

We found a guy to tow it for $45 and his mechanic is fixing it for me with my parts fo $345 plus the cost of the part and taking us to the pick n pull to get a used AC pump and taking it out himself so it stays in tact because a new pump was going to cost $250.

So needless to say, i never made it to the beach, but the car is getting fixed for way cheaper than i thought and i found a NICE and courteous mechanic who wants nothing more than for us to be happy with his service so he can get referrals from my friends.

awesome. slightly less pissed.

 

too cool. when i was in england taking your car to a mechanic was a nightmare for me and all my female friends. one mechanic made it his buisness to attract women customers. he was a god send. who went over every detail. only charged the bare minimum to get the job done, would come and rescue us on the side of the road etc. he made a very good living by word of mouth advertising. in the end every woman i knew used his service. aloha

 

well, when all the work is being done it's not me making the deals alone, i have a huge thug next to me, and it kinda helps...

But this mechanic sounds like he's a good egg. I mean, he's northside white trash, but i dont know a good mechanic who isnt.

 

Looks like things are turning for you regarding your car. I have the wiring diagrams ready if the engine cooling fan turns out to be the problem. Sorry it took so long, I've been busy (http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=64394), however I did seem to find time to play chess.

 

well, the front end was replaced, however in the interim the back left broke itself, so needless to say $400 is still needed, which I do not have, JUST for this car to pass inspection, and i just can't do it. I have to move in 3 weeks and have barely enough to do it and no set place to go, so the wheeled suck machine needs to be parked in a friends driveway and left for better days.