Back on the Road

[Howard]

For those of you who have been long time visitors to the forum, you may recall all the drivablity problems I have been having with my 89 Reatta. The issues started in September of last year. I used the car to exit my city before the arrival of a little lady called Hurricane Rita! During the 15 hour, 60 mile trek in near 100 degree heat, a hunk of the Harmonic Balancers broke off. When it was safe to return home, nearly three weeks later, I kept my fingers crossed that the car would make it home. Like a vibrating champ, the car carried me home without a hitch. While New Orleans got all the press, I think the nation was not aware of all the damage Rita caused. My city, and those around it, sustained very severe damage. Luck was on my side. My home, was spared major damage. Also, the location where I kept my 1956 Continental Mark II, was unhurt. However, the shop that did my Reatta repairs was a pile of rubble. Most places of business were damaged. I did find a shop that would replace the H/B. On the way home after the repair, the car just stopped. The good news, I was less than a block from my home, so I was able to coast in the driveway. I returned the car to the shop. I was told that the Crank Position Sensor was bad, so they replaced it. The car ran well for about two weeks, then started to run poorly. I returned the car to the same shop. There it stayed for about 5 months. The techs there said they had no idea what was wrong with it. I got tired of their excuses, so I found another shop that had reopened. Within hours, they called me and said the car was ready. It seems that the CPS was worn down because the interrupter ring in the HB was bent! They replace both and the car ran fine. The other shop refused to refund any of their work, stating that someone else had taken off the HB, and they had damaged the ring. The car ran well for about a month when it started acting up again. This time, the company I worked for annonced that it would be closing after 32 years, so I was going to be without a job. Having my "toy" car fixed was put on the back burner. When I found a new job, I returned the car to the shop that had made the successful repair. Weeks past and they stated that they could not solve the problem. After almost four weeks and over $1000, the car seems to be well again. They replaced the ECM, O2 Sensor, Cam Sensor, and the timing gear and chain! It's no doubt I got, you know what and big time. I really don't think there was an issue with the ECM or the timing gear or chain. They claim it was streched and had "jumped time" the car was back firing, but I still don't buy that there was something amiss with the timing gear. My guess the problem was the O2 sensor and maybe the Cam Sensor. During all this drama, no codes were set. Anyway, my friend is back and I hope I can enjoy and trust it again.

[Guest Tammy]

WOW! WELCOME BACK AND HAPPY TRAILS <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest MauiWowee]

Congratulations Howard. As hard as it seems to be to find a shop that you can trust with your machine and your wallet, at least here on this forum it's possible to be educated enough about the special needs of our cars to be forarmed against that kind of abuse. Glad to see the smiley on your post. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Good to know you're employed and your car's in good shape now.

I'm thinking the last issue was the ECM. A worn timing set, faulty oxygen sensor, and camshaft position sensor...I don't think any of those could stop the car from running completely

[DeeBee]

Having gone round and round with service shops in general I've found a pretty good way to deal with them:

1. Pay for a diagnosis. A free diagnosis is worthless. You get what you pay for and in this case it holds true. When you get a "free" diagnosis they can simply guess at the problem.

2. Insist on the diagnosis being definitive. You are paying for this service so you can also require accuracy. This is a car, not a space ship. A good mechanic should be able to follow diagnostic procedures to eliminate and identify the problem(s).

3. A $50 dollar diagnosis is as bad as "free" Expect to pay at least $75-$175 for this service. Require that the diagnosis they provide guarantees that the problem they identify will cure the problem you are having. If they are unwilling to do this, go elsewhere. There ARE shops that can do this.

4. Before signing a service authorization, insist that if the problem you brought the car in for isn't fixed, that they refund the service fee or apply that fee against any other requires service IN FULL.

You will be surprised at how much money this can save you and how much better the diagnosis will be. You have them on the hook from step one. A good shop won't even blink because they are confident in their abilities. For every 100 shops there might be only 2 that will work this way. Find those two and go there.

[jonlabree]

I go straight to my Buick Dealer and ask for Paul.

He has yet to let me down and several times has done things

for free and gone out of his way to make sure I was happy.

[Guest CL_Reatta]

Good to hear that your back Reattaing, hope nothing else goes wrong for ya. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[ncgirl05]

Wow Howard, sounds like the past year has been quite a trauma for you! Hurricanes, car problems, loss of job, new job, car problems - WHEW!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Glad you pulled through it all - hope this next year is much better than the last!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[padgett]

I tend to spend the money that would go to a mechanic on more tools. That way it only goes to one shop and if a mistake is made, it is mine. Am usually able to keep up with things but every now again something just keeps happening.

The a/c control module in the TranSport works perfectly when everything is apart but keeps suddenly shutting all the air diverter valves when driving.

Whop it upside the console and air comes out the vents again. Intermittants can drive anyone batty.

[Howard]

The last year has not been the best. But, unlike many people in my city, my house was not destroyed. I did enjoy my old job very much, but I was not surprised when I was told the doors would be closed. After all, I was part of the "inner" circle and read the writing on the wall. We had a fire in late 2003. The death of the founder in early 2004. The hurricane torn the roof off the building in 2005. The last straw, was one of the owners of the company starting have heart problems early in 06. Anyway, I found another job that pays slightly more, but has no benifits. My house is all repaired, my Reatta is running again and I hope for awhile. All in all, not too bad. Now if I only had a lift and more tools, I could do even more of my own work.

[Guest EDBS0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Intermittants can drive anyone batty. </div></div>

Intermittants are the absolute worst.

If it is electronics you are lucky if the part <span style="font-weight: bold"> <span style="font-style: italic">lets the smoke out</span> </span> and if it is mechanical then please just break!