Alternator Realities

[ellyssian]

$425 $450 worth of reality, actually. And another $89 for a rubber band belt.

It should be ready tonight.

I wonder if they did anything about the Check Engine light? I suppose not - the last time they said they fixed it, they didn't, and it added a few hundred on to the repair bill.

Someday, I might have to buy a '60-'70 era car so that I can actually do the maintenance myself. Oh, the good old days, when I would walk ten miles to get a part to try to keep the Citation on the road... =)

EDIT: The price went up $25. Apparently, the parts place gave them the wrong part. Wash, rinse, repeat. Finally they had to send the alternator to the parts shop. Oh. *That* alternator. And, thus, it now costs $25 more. And won't be ready until Monday.

I just don't know why the garages around here in this gear-head-infested area refuse to live up to the expectations they set on the first few repairs - after that, their quality and competence just seems to take a nosedive. I suppose it's a conspiracy - if They get me to switch over to the BuyANewCarEveryThreeYearsAndAlwaysMakeTheDealerFixIt mode, then They profit - the small car shops I try to support are just puppets for the Dealerships. =)

Comments

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

There is a reason why I go to a mechanic whose shop is twenty miles away. Being able to trust that he knows what he is doing and will do a good job is worth the extra distance.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Those 20 miles wouldn't happen to be in my direction, would they? =)