White '91 Chevrolet Astrovan EXT. 250k miles with 80k on new engine.
So we're driving across states from California to Washington. I hear California doesn't put ethanol in their gasoline but Oregon and Washington do. We drive out of California just fine. We never thought of the ethanol part before but it starting doing strange chugging and what not in Oregon. So we pull off the highway and it immediately dies. Get it fixed for $400. Don't know what they fixed.
Get to Washington. Car not starting. Get a new battery. This 2nd mechanic basically says "Don't put any more money into it not worth it. The inside is like spaghetti, the transmission has problems. Buy from my buddy across the street." I trusted him, very sincere guy. he also mentioned Christianity. Kinda didn't trust him after what the third mechanic said about him though.
We go across the street. 3rd mechanic talks us out of a new car. Looks at the van. Says "It needs a starter and a XXXX for transmission."
Drives great.
Staying in Oregon. Running great. Car Starts, not the starter..but dies right after. Try again, no problems. Drive drive drive. Same day, new parking lot. Car dies. Starts, drive drive DIES and we coast down the freeway. Gets towed to 4th mechanic.
OKAY so here's where it gets WTF with the mechanic.
Now onto the 4th mechanic. Says it's the fuel pump (of course the most expensive part to fix). Goes into detail about ethanol in WA and OR. Says he's 95% sure the fuel pump is the problem. Says it will be done in two days, Thursday. We call back, he keeps us updated. No call on Thursday. Call Friday mourning: "Yeah it'll be done in an hour, just making sure it drives okay".
We show up. Chit chat about ethanol, the fuel pump, the 95% comment, they didnt call us because they drove the car around Thursday to make sure its ok, no problems, would have been $450 but one part was squeeky clean from the ethanol? pay them their $400. "Thanks for being honest."
Car dies 10 seconds later at THEIR stop light.
Now I was thinking...WTF, I just wanna run in their office and demand a refund. They could have not done ANYTHING and I wouldn't even know! Did I have the right to do this?
So now we feel trapped. Stupid fat ass and his 5% uncertainty. Car KEEPS DIEING ALMOST EVERY TIME NOW in their shop while we wait for an answer and sip coffee. It's worse!
Still Friday. #4 mechanic looking online at parts I guess. Says that now we need a part that is $250 new....BUT if we wait until THURSDAY he can get a used one for $75.
I feel like it's all BS with this guy. Scared. Regret not demanding a refund but figured it would be very insulting and not able to get it. and what's with the TUESDAY comment? why Tuesday and not monday? Does anyone think maybe they jsut fucked up on the fuel pump and dont want it to look like that? or what....?
and what should we do about the car?
So we're driving across states from California to Washington. I hear California doesn't put ethanol in their gasoline but Oregon and Washington do. We drive out of California just fine. We never thought of the ethanol part before but it starting doing strange chugging and what not in Oregon. So we pull off the highway and it immediately dies. Get it fixed for $400. Don't know what they fixed.
Get to Washington. Car not starting. Get a new battery. This 2nd mechanic basically says "Don't put any more money into it not worth it. The inside is like spaghetti, the transmission has problems. Buy from my buddy across the street." I trusted him, very sincere guy. he also mentioned Christianity. Kinda didn't trust him after what the third mechanic said about him though.
We go across the street. 3rd mechanic talks us out of a new car. Looks at the van. Says "It needs a starter and a XXXX for transmission."
Drives great.
Staying in Oregon. Running great. Car Starts, not the starter..but dies right after. Try again, no problems. Drive drive drive. Same day, new parking lot. Car dies. Starts, drive drive DIES and we coast down the freeway. Gets towed to 4th mechanic.
OKAY so here's where it gets WTF with the mechanic.
Now onto the 4th mechanic. Says it's the fuel pump (of course the most expensive part to fix). Goes into detail about ethanol in WA and OR. Says he's 95% sure the fuel pump is the problem. Says it will be done in two days, Thursday. We call back, he keeps us updated. No call on Thursday. Call Friday mourning: "Yeah it'll be done in an hour, just making sure it drives okay".
We show up. Chit chat about ethanol, the fuel pump, the 95% comment, they didnt call us because they drove the car around Thursday to make sure its ok, no problems, would have been $450 but one part was squeeky clean from the ethanol? pay them their $400. "Thanks for being honest."
Car dies 10 seconds later at THEIR stop light.
Now I was thinking...WTF, I just wanna run in their office and demand a refund. They could have not done ANYTHING and I wouldn't even know! Did I have the right to do this?
So now we feel trapped. Stupid fat ass and his 5% uncertainty. Car KEEPS DIEING ALMOST EVERY TIME NOW in their shop while we wait for an answer and sip coffee. It's worse!
Still Friday. #4 mechanic looking online at parts I guess. Says that now we need a part that is $250 new....BUT if we wait until THURSDAY he can get a used one for $75.
I feel like it's all BS with this guy. Scared. Regret not demanding a refund but figured it would be very insulting and not able to get it. and what's with the TUESDAY comment? why Tuesday and not monday? Does anyone think maybe they jsut fucked up on the fuel pump and dont want it to look like that? or what....?
and what should we do about the car?