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State of the Auto Address
Sep. 27th, 2007 01:18 pmIt has been some time since I updated on the saga of my car. I haven't posted earlier largely because my brother left his Jeep for us to borrow while he is downrange so we haven't needed it desperately or anything.
When last we left Car, she was with the crazy Polish mechanic who was trying very hard to communicate to me what was wrong with her. This went through a series of two months with me going to check on her every week and largely having no signs that the mechanic was actually doing anything to fix her. That's because he wasn't. Turns out that this mechanic shop, which![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elvnsword's sergeant recommended to us, is a chop shop. Or at least it was a chop shop. And our mechanic has been arrested and spent the last four weeks in jail (he's still there to the best of our knowledge). Thus the lack of answering phone calls and the shop always being closed.
So we go by the shop on Monday intending to write down the license plate number and such for the Polizei, whom we were going to see directly after that, so we can get permission to pick up our car. When we show up, the shop is actually open and it appears that the owner is there. He tells us that he has no idea when our mechanic will be back and that we should pick up the car. He then tells us that we don't owe them any money, but we need to pick her up in the next hour.
We call the AAFES tow truck driver and have him come get her and tow her to the AAFES garage for $50. Remember that rant about never using AAFES again? Well, the Euro exchange rate is in the toilet and we pay AAFES in Dollars. That translates to having to use the mechanic we can afford. But, AAFES is going to replace the alternator for free, including labor, as their work in June was faulty. This means we can afford to replace the wheel bearings and tie rods. So Car will be in tip top shape within the next month.
Leave it to us to pick the mechanic who works at a chop shop. I'm glad we didn't actually buy that sergeant dinner for helping us out.
When last we left Car, she was with the crazy Polish mechanic who was trying very hard to communicate to me what was wrong with her. This went through a series of two months with me going to check on her every week and largely having no signs that the mechanic was actually doing anything to fix her. That's because he wasn't. Turns out that this mechanic shop, which
elvnsword's sergeant recommended to us, is a chop shop. Or at least it was a chop shop. And our mechanic has been arrested and spent the last four weeks in jail (he's still there to the best of our knowledge). Thus the lack of answering phone calls and the shop always being closed.So we go by the shop on Monday intending to write down the license plate number and such for the Polizei, whom we were going to see directly after that, so we can get permission to pick up our car. When we show up, the shop is actually open and it appears that the owner is there. He tells us that he has no idea when our mechanic will be back and that we should pick up the car. He then tells us that we don't owe them any money, but we need to pick her up in the next hour.
We call the AAFES tow truck driver and have him come get her and tow her to the AAFES garage for $50. Remember that rant about never using AAFES again? Well, the Euro exchange rate is in the toilet and we pay AAFES in Dollars. That translates to having to use the mechanic we can afford. But, AAFES is going to replace the alternator for free, including labor, as their work in June was faulty. This means we can afford to replace the wheel bearings and tie rods. So Car will be in tip top shape within the next month.
Leave it to us to pick the mechanic who works at a chop shop. I'm glad we didn't actually buy that sergeant dinner for helping us out.
