Post by Jersey on Oct 28, 2010 18:38:14 GMT -5
Sorry ladies and gentlemen, I need to let loose. My vehicle has not been kind to me this week. I failed inspection for emissions back in April, and waited pretty much all summer for a good friend of mine's friend to get on the ball and help me out. The reason why I'm bringing it to other people is because I'm sick and tired of bringing it to shops and paying at least $500 per visit, no matter what I'm having repaired. Even an oil change is $70 now.
On Saturday, I brought it to my friend because a decent mechanic told me the engine was missing a beat and not firing correctly. What I failed emissions for was high hydrocarbons, or HC's. HC's are basically unburned gasoline flowing out the tailpipe. The mechanic told me to replace my spark plugs and come back and see him, where he would do the analysis and make sure everything was good to go for the inspection station.
I brought it to my friend on Saturday because he's a certified mechanic that works on military vehicles. Above all, he won't kill me on the cost to repair. We decided to do a full tune-up while we were in there, since it didn't make much sense to just replace the plugs. I spent $85 on new plugs, new wires, and a new distributor cap and rotor. He replaced it all. Truck started up, but ran like hell. Not only had the other mechanic improperly spaced the spark plugs, undoubtedly causing the misfire in the engine, but he also had the firing order incorrect. It's a wonder the truck ran at all for the last year.
So we fixed all that. Guess what? Truck wouldn't start. The fuel filter went out right there on the two of us. Mike told me he's never seen a vehicle do something like this. So back to the parts shop we go for a new fuel filter, which was another $20. He puts that on, truck STILL won't start. So we wait around for another couple hours until his other friend can come by, a true junkyard man that knows everything about cars. He sends us out for startign fluid. We come back, he sprays in a shot, and the truck starts. It finally starts pulling fuel, stabilizes and runs strong. The truck ran ok from the on right?
Wrong. I had no problem using the truck to get to work on Monday, but when I finished my shift and went to leave, the truck completely died as I was backing out. After attempting the starting fluid several times, I had to make the calls. I got picked up while the friend who got it started on Saturday came down. Guess what went on me that time? The distributor.
So he replaces the distributor a day later, now Tuesday. But when you replace the distributor, you screw up the engine timing on a truck like this. So the truck starts, but runs like crap because the engine needs adjusted. It was brought down to another town, where I'm still waiting on it now.
I'm not happy because I will most certainly be getting an earful about it tonight when I see my father at bowling. He hates the idea that I'm trying different alternatives instead of the mainstream idea he uses of just bringing it to a shop and getting destroyed on cost. He believes that a high cost means quality work. But I can no longer afford the high costs of shops, so I'm forced to look elsewhere for my truck repairs.
I really need to learn how to turn a wrench and do my own work. Especially if I own a truck that's this big of a pain in the a--.
On Saturday, I brought it to my friend because a decent mechanic told me the engine was missing a beat and not firing correctly. What I failed emissions for was high hydrocarbons, or HC's. HC's are basically unburned gasoline flowing out the tailpipe. The mechanic told me to replace my spark plugs and come back and see him, where he would do the analysis and make sure everything was good to go for the inspection station.
I brought it to my friend on Saturday because he's a certified mechanic that works on military vehicles. Above all, he won't kill me on the cost to repair. We decided to do a full tune-up while we were in there, since it didn't make much sense to just replace the plugs. I spent $85 on new plugs, new wires, and a new distributor cap and rotor. He replaced it all. Truck started up, but ran like hell. Not only had the other mechanic improperly spaced the spark plugs, undoubtedly causing the misfire in the engine, but he also had the firing order incorrect. It's a wonder the truck ran at all for the last year.
So we fixed all that. Guess what? Truck wouldn't start. The fuel filter went out right there on the two of us. Mike told me he's never seen a vehicle do something like this. So back to the parts shop we go for a new fuel filter, which was another $20. He puts that on, truck STILL won't start. So we wait around for another couple hours until his other friend can come by, a true junkyard man that knows everything about cars. He sends us out for startign fluid. We come back, he sprays in a shot, and the truck starts. It finally starts pulling fuel, stabilizes and runs strong. The truck ran ok from the on right?
Wrong. I had no problem using the truck to get to work on Monday, but when I finished my shift and went to leave, the truck completely died as I was backing out. After attempting the starting fluid several times, I had to make the calls. I got picked up while the friend who got it started on Saturday came down. Guess what went on me that time? The distributor.
So he replaces the distributor a day later, now Tuesday. But when you replace the distributor, you screw up the engine timing on a truck like this. So the truck starts, but runs like crap because the engine needs adjusted. It was brought down to another town, where I'm still waiting on it now.
I'm not happy because I will most certainly be getting an earful about it tonight when I see my father at bowling. He hates the idea that I'm trying different alternatives instead of the mainstream idea he uses of just bringing it to a shop and getting destroyed on cost. He believes that a high cost means quality work. But I can no longer afford the high costs of shops, so I'm forced to look elsewhere for my truck repairs.
I really need to learn how to turn a wrench and do my own work. Especially if I own a truck that's this big of a pain in the a--.
