Re: Dear Diary.... Long, but a MUST read....

[Brian McGarvey <brianm@zbt62.eastnet.gatech.edu>]

That is damn funny.....
ROFLMAO
really..


On Wed, 30 May 2001, Patrick Bureau wrote:

> Dear Diary,
>
> For the past week the broken baffle in my muffler had completely driven me
> to get it changed. So I booked my local Sears shop and got them to order the
> proper muffler for my "Beatrice" so that they could perform this easy cut a
> pipe and stick a muffler on the exhausts system so that I would be back at
> work by noon latest.. Everything was finely tuned and set in rock up to the
> point where I actually let the mechanic perform a exhaust inspection (to
> supposedly make sure nothing else needed attention on his part).
>
> 8am.. Bring car at sears automotive garage, I am the first client, the
> mechanics seem in good humor as I hear the chattering and friendly bantering
> in the garage area. so far so good. As I talk to the owner of the shop he
> tells me he got the muffler the previous day so that I don't waste my day
> here. Charming fellow a great talker for a shop-owner.
>
> 815am the car is driven into the garage area, looking through the service
> window, I am glad to see a middle aged mechanic that comforts me in knowing
> that they did not give the job to a 20 years old that never seen this car
> before.. I start to relax.
>
> 8.30am the mechanic calls me at the garage area to discuss my "problem" of
> noise.
>
> 8.35am the mechanic explains he cannot hear any noises from the muffler, and
> points at the heat shield that is loosely holding from the body work and
> tells me that most likely my noise problem, after pointing out to him that I
> can only hear this noise when starting the car when it is cold , he
> retorques, well its warm right now, well let it cool down, meanwhile I will
> stick a screw into this loose cover into your floor area so it wont disturb
> you anymore , calm I watch hit grab a drill, and a aluminum screw, I eye my
> coffee on a barrel near by and rear for it, Dzzzz. he turns around with a
> nice serviceable smile, there! now lets it sit for an hour and will start it
> up again... as I gaze up from my coffee cup to the car where the newly
> installed screw is inserted, I notices liquid dripping from the shiny new
> bolt... puzzled I look at the mechanic that suddenly realizes it was too
> early in the morning, as he pivots and looks at his work... gas tank pierced
> with a bolt, gas dripping from the tank unto the floor.
>
> 8.45am after recovery from a near infracts and heart attack and 3
> cigarettes... the owner find me outside (under the rain) and start excusing
> himself for the mistake and promises to get the tank repaired this morning
> at no cost what so ever. being in a good mood, and understanding human
> nature (though some folks should be shot for desecrating a gas tank thinking
> it is a floorboard.. but I digress) I nod my agreement and call work and
> advise that I will not be in today..
>
> 9.15am after his morning break, mechanic starts attacking the "tank " job,
> proceeds to carefully remove the 4 bolts holding the "h" frame assembly so
> that he can lower the tank from the body, bolts that were never moved since
> its conception in 1985, two snapped, and the French Canadian back yard
> swearing started.. "criss the Volkswagen", standing close by... no
> commenting, as I did not want to put gas on the fire (pun intended) at this
> time... he lowers the full tank (of gas eh!) and leans it atop the H frame
> so that he can remove the last two breather hoses and electrical connection
> atop the tank. (I could of told him it would been easier to do this through
> the back seat.. but no.. I was hoping something else to happen.. read on...
>
> 945am, after 30 mins of work the tank almost ready to be removed, suddenly
> shimmers under its own weight as the H bar drops another 5 inches lower, 2
> mechanics run to help the poor lad as he's trying desperately not to spill
> this tank unto the ground. finally the tank is emptied and lowered to the
> ground, wiped dry, and sent out to be repaired. 1/2 hours I am told...
> (more swearing follow as I listen at a distance of the open garage door,
> looking on..) The mechanic realized he just snapped not one but both break
> lines that he forgot to disconnect from the H frame and broke door to weight
> of gas tank.. he calls Napa and get two new rear hoses and flexi hoses for
> the rear brakes lines... 20 minutes I am told (so far so good the parts are
> available..)
>
> 1030am, the brake line arrive and a few minutes later the gas tank also...
> the mechanic is busy taking a "syndicated break"
>
> 11am the mechanic realize more problem arose during this removal of the
> tank, the hoses leading to and from the gas pump are cracked due to hold age
> and "sudden" previously noted stress... he orders more.. cannot proceed
> until they get here, this time, not trucks available it will only get here
> by 1pm.. I head out to lunch...
>
> 1PM, the parts are in the mechanic is back in a better mood after lunch, so
> many breaks so little work...) and he reassembles the tank unto the car, the
> tank has been cleans, pressure tested and repainted.. the brakes lines are
> nice and new and the bleeders on the rear drums are properly functional (to
> the surprise of the mechanic, which expected to break one and replace them
> too... (chuckling by myself at this point eyeing the work of art unfolding
> in front of me..)
>
> 2pm tank in reinstalled, reassembled and properly connected. (note... need
> to change axle bearings and plates in rear, one is crooked). re installs the
> brakes lines and after drilling the 2 broken bolts from the frame and
> re-threading the holes, he reinstalls the H frame in place, adjust the
> position of the brake lines, and gas lines so nothing gets pinches or rubs..
>
> 3PM INSTALLS THE MUFFLER.....
>
> 3.15pm drop the car to the ground and declares.. all done!
> 3.16pm car is lifted to my insistence that I now "check" the work that was
> done on my car.
> 3.17pm found the U bold used uselessly placed unto the pipes, as plenty of
> air is heard when car starts. after fsking with it for 30 mins he advises me
> that this is the best he can do, and I have to accept the work done.
>
> 4PM I advise to the now rather annoyed at me mechanic that his work is
> sloppy and that he is no longer required to complete the work (gawd I love
> dismissing people for crappy work) and advise the owner that I require a
> "torch-man" he calls over another mechanic, and I explain to this guy...
> SOLDER the exhaust, I live in Texas and leaking exhaust Fails mechanical
> inspection. he tells me this is not standard work in Canada.. I look at the
> owner, he nods to the mechanic to do as told.
>
> 4.30 the work is completed and to my entire satisfaction I pay up for 1
> muffler + 30 mins installation fee, grab my keys and leave...
>
> Why do people argue with Scirocco folks when you ask them to "change this
> part, don't argue, just do it?"
> and secondly, I wonder if the same guy does shocks in the front..? I could
> use a couple more brake lines and perhaps CV joint replaced for free... I
> wonder... MUAHAHAHA
>
> Patrick Bureau
> 1985 8v Titian Red Scirocco
> http://longcoeur.com/scirocco
> ----------------------------------
> SCA-Name Lord Patric de Long Coeur
> Ansteorra, Steppes Barony
> http://longcoeur.com/
>
>
> --
> Email LIST problems to: scirocco-l-probs@scirocco.org.
> To unsubscibe send "unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to majordomo@scirocco.org
>
>


--
Email LIST problems to: scirocco-l-probs@scirocco.org.
To unsubscibe send "unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to majordomo@scirocco.org