I had my dad's truck taken to Wally World on 9/13. Got the more expensive service, you know the one where they check the fluids, top them off, vacuum,wash windows, check several things, air in tires,treadwear. Anywho, paid my 22 bucks.
So like I was saying in my last spiel, I took the truck to fix the recall. The service manager tells me the brake fluid is bone dry,saying that is why the brake light is on, not because of the recall. For 76 bucks he can fill it with brake fluid, and diagnose whether there is a leak. So, I tell him, no thank you.
Personally, I figure I can got to HEB, buy brake fluid, put it in. Hey, guess what? If it leaks out, I have diagnosed a brake fluid leak for $1! Lets see $76 vs. $1...hmmm, what is a girl to do?
So I get it home, go to put the brake fluid in, and yes both break lights are on, and lo and behold, the fluid is full to the top! Ok, as long as my head is under the hood I start looking around, and how about that, my wiper fluid is empty, my wiper fluid disperser (my word for the thingy mabob) is unplugged! Well, I just diagnosed and corrected the reason my son cannot get the wiper fluid to come out! Ok, then, moving on I check the oil. BONE DRY! I mean nada on the dipstick!
So, I go buy 5 quarts of oil. Put one in at a time, and it took 4 to get it over the safe level. So, I look at my Wally World receipt. I changed it on 9/13. There is no leak, no smoke, no nothing. Mileage at oil change 87378, mileage last night 88049. so in 671 miles, I am to have burned or leaked 5 quarts of oil, with no evidence of it at all.
So, my theory is, they never put oil in to the truck to begin with. The other fluids were not checked or filled, and even before I left, I had to make them put air in the spare,even though it was on the receipt as done. So, today I go to the manager, and tell him my theory. He is of course doubtful, says he will review the tapes (apparently WM tapes their auto employees as they work) and tells me to bring the truck in so they can check for leaks.
So, I bring it in. Nope, no leaks. No, the assistant manager says, it is doubtful you could burn 5 quarts of oil in that short of time without smoke, or evidence. So, they will review the tapes and call me. Good, sounds like they will see their error and correct it. So, I leave semi-satisfied.
So, I get in the truck and head home. I am traveling at about 45 miles an hour, when BAM! the hood flies up and onto my windshield. I slam on my brakes, try to see through the small opening under the hood, and try to get off the highway, only to narrowly miss some mailbox! Finally, coming to a stop right across the cemetery, on 1069. So, of course I have a mini breakdown, call Wal-Mart, tell them what happened, tell them they forgot to latch the hood, and that I am ok,but livid. After I hang up, I tried like the dickens to get the hood down and it wouldn't budge! So, I again call Wal-Mart, and tell the manager to come help me! This was at 2:27. No one came. I am by the road alone with the hood bent up, no one with me, no manager. Finally, at 2:43 I call Teddy to ask how long should it take a manager to come 3-4 blocks down the road to help a stranded customer? He said wait 5 more minutes and call again. At 2:51 I call again, angry to Wal Mart, and the guy says he is on his way. (What the heck had he been doing since 2:27?)
So, finally Wal-Mart manager Chris arrives, neither of us can budge the hood, so he climbs on the bumper and some plastic piece inside the truck engine (I told him it was going to collapse, so he got off and quick), then from the bumper he pulls the hood down, but it won't shut or latch. So he gives me a ride home and takes the truck, somehow to WM.
The hinges are now broke, the hood is shredded in 2 places, there was green paint all along the bottom of my windshield, and it is undriveable. It is sitting at WM, waiting till Monday to get a body shop to look at the damage. Did I get a loaner car? NO!
Anyway, I have fibromyalgia, and stress begets pain. So, when I tensed up when that hood came flying at me,OMG, I thought I'd die. Panic, pain,tension, instant headache and now, full body pain. Oh, well, at least I didn't kill anyone or crash! BTW, I was on 1069 for 45 minutes. No one, save a very ice man on a motorcycle, came by or even looked my way. The man on the motorcycle was awesome, asked if he could help and such. Really nice, especially in light of how much traffic was whizzing by, without a care. There was even some guy working at the cemetery...he'd glance over from time to time, but never came over. I bet he even saw it happen!
Oy,vey.....it has been a rough day. Guess it could be a lot worse so I thank God it didn't cause any chain reaction accidents or break the windshield! Glad I missed that mailbox! Could have been impaled! Oh, the horrors of what could have happened....ok, now I am just draggin this out, bueno bye!
Meanwhile back at the ranch...
Saturday, October 08, 2005
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