Good News: Yesterday I got my car back from the repair shop.
Bad News: It was 'finished' at the end of the day on Friday, the last day of the work-week and as feared, some slackness of technique played a part in the job. There was a hose not connected when I drove it back to my hotel, which caused a strange noise I could hear with my impaired hearing. I don't know what the part is called that the hose was disconnected from, but I can easily point it out to my husband later to learn what it is called. Anyway, the noise continued for a short bit after the engine was off, but stopped within a short time (30 seconds or less), so I just let the car sit overnight, but the same thing happened in the morning, so I opened the hood and took a look with the engine still running so I could find where it was coming from exactly. The sound reminded me of a car horn that is dying (still sounds like a horn, but loosing intensity because it's wearing down the battery), but as soon as I saw the disconnected hose & re-attached it, the noise was gone. So, I was irritated about the shoddy work, but of course, being Saturday, the service shop was not open when I drove over to talk to them about the disconnected hose.
More Bad News: Then my engine hood wouldn't close all the way! No obvious reason that I could see; None at all. My departure was delayed trying to solve these annoying issues, and finally I just drove for about 35 miles or so with the hood latch, only partially closed and when I stopped for a rest stop tried closing it again. After a bit of struggle, I got it to close, but feared opening it again and then closing it was going to be a real problem.
Good news: My car's AC worked well for an hour or so.
Bad news: The AC stopped blowing cold air and started blowing hot air after about an hour or so of driving. It stayed at blowing 90°F air for quite some time, but got as high as 110°F air for an extended period of time. I was not a happy camper. I left a couple of messages on the machine when the temps reached those horrendous numbers. I told them I want my money back for the AC work because, obviously they were unsuccessful fixing the problem I described very clearly to them and now the same exact symptoms continued.
Bad Bad News: I stopped at Donner Summit Rest Area to use the facilities and afterward, my car wouldn't start. It took 3 hours from my first call for roadside assistance before the tow truck driver arrived.
Good news: The tow truck driver ID'd the issue - a dead battery.
Bad news: I just spent over $700.00 in various repairs to my car (first AC - two attempts to fix failed; second oil flame trap replaced) and no-one tested the battery?!?! I am amazed, shocked and more than a little disappointed in the workers at both establishments. The second one has a 'warranty' posted on the website, so I plan to address this issue with them, for what good it's going to do. None, I am pretty sure.
Good news: After a tow to Truckee, I bought a battery and the tow truck driver installed it.
Bad news: It cost me (according to my husband) $100.00 more than it should. Most things cost more here, he seems to forget. Plus California charges some additional fees he's not used to in Illinois. And then he says, 'You bought the wrong battery.' Get real! I am stranded on the road and got my car taken care of, running again and you want to dis me for not buying the battery you would have bought if you were in charge?
Good news: I was able to cancel my hotel reservation in Elko, NV without any penalty. The lady was very understanding and wished me the best of luck getting my car running again (this was while I was still waiting for the tow truck.)
Bad news: I had no place to stay tonight.
Good news: Hubby made a reservation for me in Reno since I couldn't get online.
Bad news: It cost 3 times as much for one night in a Dive in Reno than it was going to cost me in a decent place in Elko. This place is pretty disappointing, but at least it's a roof over my head and the TV works.
I sure hope nothing more goes wrong with my car tomorrow or the rest of the trip home, for that matter.
