I am fired up!
The brakes on my PT Cruiser squeaked yesterday. I called the Chyrsler dealer this morning asking for an appointment in order to replace the pads. The customer service rep told me that I could bring the car down right away, as they had openings. Great. (Usually I have to make an appointment and wait several days).
The dealer is only five minutes from my house and upon arriving I was greeted by a guy who starts filling out the paper work. I told him I also wanted an oil change and to check the car because the engine light had come on. We discussed a couple of other things that I might want done, but he informed me that we needed to first find the reason for the engine light issue. He let me know that the diagnostic test would be $95. Okay, so brakes at $99.95, oil change at $19.95 and adding the diagnostic test of $95., I am already up to $214.90, but the price of the diagnostic test would be credited towards any repairs that may be needed.
Around 2:00 p.m., I began wondering why I had not heard from the mechanic. I called and of course, he is out to lunch. An hour later he calls me back. He proceeds to tell me why the engire light is on. Here we go:
I am no mechanic, but I can smell a rat! As he is rattling this stuff off to me, I am thinking struts...aren't those related to shocks...wouldn't my car be bouncey or wobbly? These leaks...wouldn't there be something on my driveway...some type of fluid...something? The transmission solenoid pack...hmmm...no problem with the automatic gears changing. And clogged fuel injections, wouldn't the car drive a little rough? Noisy hub and bearing...am I deaf? I hear no rattling. Do any of these problems cause an engine light to go on? So I asked him, "what's the bottom line." Hold on...waiting...waiting...here it comes...$2200.! I laughed hysterically and then I went off. I said, "So basically you are telling me PT Cruisers are crap cars because this car only has 45,000 miles on it and it needs all of this work?" He started to say yes and then changed his tune. I guess he remembered that Chrysler makes the PT Cruiser! He told me that it is their job to tell me if something is wrong because customers complain that they are not told everything prior to something breaking down. Huh? I told him that I did not trust them (along with a few other choice words). He said, "I understand." Oh really? I declined service.
I have no problems with this car...none. My brakes were squeaking and although PTs are notorious for squeaky brakes, I wanted them checked. I can probably surmise my engine light went on because I went over 45,000 miles. The car rides just fine. I take care of it with regular oil changes, filter/hose replacements and so forth. I'm good to it and it's good to me, and very cheap on fuel. Immediately after hanging up the phone, I went to the dealer. I was like a cat on a hot tin roof, thinking that since I declined service (and basically indicated unethical business practices), they were going to cut a hose, break a part, or something. When I arrived and asked for my car, I was told it would take five minutes to finish the paper work. Oh, now I am really anxious. I decided to take a little walk and check out the repair bays. I would find my car and see exactly what they were doing to it! I could not find it, however. This only added to my anxiety, as I was sure they would inflict some type of damage in order to force me to get this work done.
After nearly a half hour of waiting, my paper work finally arrived. Of course, I had to pay the diagnostic charge which I did and left. Once I was home we checked the car. No broken struts, not even a worn bushing. Still no leaks, dry as a bone, nothing dripping anywhere. The air filter wasn't even that dirty! Of course my engine light was still on which is problematic. You can't get your car smogged if the light is on and my tags are due in November so I obviously have to get that resolved. I will take the car somewhere else for a second opinion. I have been online researching the alleged symptoms, and my car has none of the reactions described to these problems. I can't help but wonder do I have a big "S" (for sucker) tatooed to my forehead? Or...is this much more sinister, the need for increased revenue in a tanking economy? I didn't even need an appointment, a first for me and I am having no problems with the car. Business slow? Should I be calling Dateline?
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