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23:43:31 - 12/19/2024
V6 Dakotas
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David_P
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
11:56:12
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 Subject: $1000 tune-up!
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Before I blow my brains out, I wanted to vent my frustration to you all over the bill I will be getting for a simple tune-up. Because of some major rust around the #5 plug, my mechanic is going to have to remove the head to remove the spark plug. It's almost inconceivable to me that despite not changing plugs for 90K, an engine block would rust so much as to make it impossible to remove spark plugs. Not to mention the fact that I have many areas now on my truck with bubbling paint around the wheel wells and front window seals due to rust. This truck is only 7 years old, and have taken very good care of it. I almost feel betrayed by this truck and if it wasn't for the fact that it is paid for, I would dump it in a second.
It's not just Dodge--it's every damn car on the road. All they are made to do is drain us all financially!
David
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ftheabus
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
12:16:36
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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Doesn't sound like you took "very good care of it" by waiting 90k to replace the plugs.
There is an issue with a bolt breaking which causes water to drip into the holes causing seizure of the plugs. Dont remember if it was #3 or 5. $800 for the head work.
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Shadetree
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
12:22:25
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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I bet if you were to spray it with pb blaster and let it set for a day or two it would come out. We see this alot on our well tender rigs. What we do is a couple days before we are schedule to do a tune up we will take the rig out of service and spray it with pentrating oil like pb blaster a couple times a day and let it set. They usually break free after that. Then just put a coat of antiseeze on the new plugs and it should happen again. Ive been there going on 5 years now and we have only had to remove one head because of a stuck plug. You might give it a try its a $6 can vs. $1000 spark plug.
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IT
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
13:04:55
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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It is called preventative maintenance. Learn how to do it. This is like coming in here and saying that you went 90k miles on a oil change and now your motor is knocking and smoking. Learn how to take care of sh!t.
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David_P
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
14:14:59
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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Let me clarify: I take care of it the best I can with the time I have in life--which isn't much, especially if you're trying to take care of two cars.
Anyway, I think a $1000 penalty is punishment enough, don't you think?
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David_P
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
15:54:56
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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I wanted to add, also, and get opinions. According to the mechanic's boss, it was during his attempt to remove the plug that caused it to break and drop into the head. Should I be paying for that mistake, or are they not liable for that kind of thing?
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dakota49
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
17:24:30
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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David_P, thats a lot of money, I would do it myself before I would pay for, but then a lot of would. As for being liable, I don't know, I spent an extra 500 on a transmission rebuild and it destoyed its self in just 1800 miles. High Gear in Memphis refused to honer their warranty so I rebuilt the damn thing myself, no problems since.
It is bad when people take advantage of you though. You may talk to a lawyer about it, but I think you would pay more for the lawyer than the $1000 then still not have you truck going. I think about now would be a good time to teach your self how to fix it your self.
Just a suggestion.
88 3.9 5 speed 4X4 reman with 16000 miles
Good luck
Dakota49
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Problem Child
GenIII
7/24/2007
19:32:21
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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I don't want to pour salt in the wound, but D@MN dude, 90,000 miles and your getting to spark plugs. And want to complain because they where rusted and it broke off. Do you know where the hood latch is? if so have you ever opened it and looked under it? I'd hate to hear how long it has been since you changed the oil, if you ever did.
OH I got two vehicles to take care of, Sounds to me you don't need one. Buy a freaking horse you won't feed and it will die, and you'll say D@MN my horse died..HOW COME, I rode him everyday.
GIVE US ALL A BREAK, AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR SH!T
Just junk the thing, it's better off with you anyway. Have A Nice Day
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Curly
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
21:58:17
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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you need to do 2 things
find another shop
and start keeping up with your truck
if you dont have the know how
take it in somewhere
and not the guy that quoted a grand!
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Mike Stager
Dodge Dakota
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7/24/2007
23:04:08
|  RE: $1000 tune-up!
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It's a bitter pill to swallow, but just because a manufacturer claims long life out of an item that requires maintenance ( high mileage antifreeze anyone? ), doesn't mean that you WILL GET that mileage out of it, and if you do, it doesn't mean you won't have other issues. Something like spark plugs left untouched for 90k has a high probability of issues other than just being worn out. Look at the bolts on your exhaust manifolds...I bet they aren't silver anymore, and doubtful the threads are sharp and clean.
Claiming lack of time to maintain your vehicles simply means you need to start paying someone else to do it for you, or not have so much on your plate. Lack of time to do maintenance is a synonym to one simple word "neglect". Neglect anything long enough and when you finally get around to taking care of it, guess what, it bites you in the ass harder than if you had been taking care of it. Same thing goes for the ladies we call our wives.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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7/25/2007
08:41:18
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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It's not that we want to 'see you punished' with a $1,000 repair. But it's absolutely ridiculous to say you take care of a vehicle, but don't have time to change plugs when they're due. I change mine every 15K to keep it in top condition. They're only $1.50 each, for God's sake.
As far as not having time, I take care of four family vehicles, work a 40-hr week, am a father to a 2-yr old girl, I do all household maintenance, I am executor of my cousin's estate (so I'm physically caring for and cleaning out her house and car, as well as all the trips to the laywer and paperwork, 40 miles away), and I drive 60 miles each way to care for my elderly father at least twice a month. I have a side business and host 6 web sites. Time? I find the time to do tuneups and oil changes.
Now the helpful part: Do as suggested and spray the heck out of the plug with PB Blaster or another good penetrating oil, 3x a day for several days. Warm up the engine and spray it during the cooldown, and it will get sucked in as the parts contract. Don't pay $1K. You can get the plug out. Tear out the heat shield if need be.
And, no, they're not responsible for how hard it is to remove parts from the truck. It's rust and age.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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7/25/2007
10:39:28
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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Hey Bob you just dropped a few notches in my book. I don't see you making time to go fishing.
Come on, everyone needs to make time to go fishing because we all know a bad day fishing is better than any day working! LOL
If you're ever in North GA let me know, I'll take you trout fishing.
- Dan M
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David_P
Dodge Dakota
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7/25/2007
13:30:53
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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Comments on your comments:
“Problem Child”
>>I don't want to pour salt in the wound, but D@MN dude, 90,000 miles and your getting to spark plugs. And want to complain because they where rusted and it broke off. Do you know where the hood latch is? if so have you ever opened it and looked under it? I'd hate to hear how long it has been since you changed the oil, if you ever did.
OH I got two vehicles to take care of, Sounds to me you don't need one. Buy a freaking horse you won't feed and it will die, and you'll say D@MN my horse died..HOW COME, I rode him everyday.
GIVE US ALL A BREAK, AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR SH!T
Just junk the thing, it's better off with you anyway. Have A Nice Day<<
My choice would be kosher salt, thank you. And, no, I haven’t changed my oil yet and I’ve had it for seven years—imagine that? I like to live on the edge.
“Mike Stager”
>>Claiming lack of time to maintain your vehicles simply means you need to start paying someone else to do it for you, or not have so much on your plate. Lack of time to do maintenance is a synonym to one simple word "neglect". Neglect anything long enough and when you finally get around to taking care of it, guess what, it bites you in the ass harder than if you had been taking care of it. Same thing goes for the ladies we call our wives.<<
If I had the money to begin with, I wouldn’t have tried doing the tune-up myself in the first place. Sorry, but my wife and I just don’t make enough money to keep paying shops to do maintenance for us. There’s a reason why folks in the world our in such dire credit debt. Not too many people can come up with the cash to pay for car maintenance or repairs at the local shop or dealership.
Fortunately, I can say I’ve kept up with my wife’s maintenance pretty well for the last fourteen years.
“Bob Lincoln”
>>It's not that we want to 'see you punished' with a $1,000 repair. But it's absolutely ridiculous to say you take care of a vehicle, but don't have time to change plugs when they're due. I change mine every 15K to keep it in top condition. They're only $1.50 each, for God's sake. <<
I agree. I’m a louse.
>>As far as not having time, I take care of four family vehicles, work a 40-hr week, am a father to a 2-yr old girl, I do all household maintenance, I am executor of my cousin's estate (so I'm physically caring for and cleaning out her house and car, as well as all the trips to the laywer and paperwork, 40 miles away), and I drive 60 miles each way to care for my elderly father at least twice a month. I have a side business and host 6 web sites. Time? I find the time to do tuneups and oil changes.<<
Amazing. There doesn’t seem to be enough time for you to breathe in your schedule, so I tip my hat to you. I’d have to take drugs to keep up with the kind of schedule you have.
In conclusion:
Yes, I’m at fault for waiting so long. Yes, I’m still complaining, regardless, for all kinds of reasons (like why did Dodge slant the #5 plug “towards” the firewall; why do repair shops insist on raping their customers with absurd labor and part costs, etc.). And, no, I’m no Bob Lincoln.
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Adam
Dodge Dakota
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7/25/2007
19:06:12
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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Betrayed by your truck? If you dont do regular preventative maintenance you're just asking for problems. But as you put it you must be dying soon and you're obviously spending every little second making the most of life. I just hope that eventually everyone will be willing to drive to you since your truck is just going to break down from poor upkeep.
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Mike Stager
Dodge Dakota
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7/25/2007
22:17:09
|  RE: $1000 tune-up!
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Well, everyone has the right to complain, but then..everyone has a right to complain about the complainer ;)
The problem is, this cost you $1000. You need to figure that it would cost you less if you had paid for the tune ups sooner. Honestly, it's a lesson that is hard to learn and apply. Pay now, or pay more later...when you have to pay more later, you'll find a way to make it happen, because you HAVE TO. Well, just think that you HAVE TO pay NOW, and you will FIND A WAY. The perception will be that you can't afford to do it, but can you really afford to wait until it breaks much more substantially in scope and cost?
I'm not trying to bust your balls, I've been in your situation. It sucks and when it happens, all you really want is some sympathy. Unfortunately, the sympathetic are not frequent visitors to message boards.
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Relf
Dodge Dakota
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7/28/2007
15:26:49
| RE: $1000 tune-up!
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What brand of plug would run for 90,000 then rust so bad that it would break off, then fall into the cylinder?
You're a j@ck @ss! Buy a new car, Mr. I don't have any time but to b!tch on this website!!
Relf
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