VX casualty.... again

[WormGod]

Well, as if my Xmas vacation couldnt get any worse, today took the cake.

Took the VX in for a scheduled oil change this morning. Dropped the keys with the clerk and went back to settle into the lounge and watch tv until they gave me a hollar. Well, not too much later, I heard the hollar. It came in the form of a high revving engine, a crashing sound, someone screaming "Sh*t!!" and another screaming "Oh f!@#!!".

I thought to myself, nah, that has nothing to do with my VX. How wrong I was. The shop manager came back and said they had a problem with my VX and to follow him into the shop. There, I found my VX pancaking 2 large toolchests up against a concrete wall. The guy who pulled it in tried to tell me something went wrong with my brakes. Funny, after 45k miles, I have never had a brake issue, yet he finds one moving it 50ft from a parking space to the bay? Sorry, that excuse has been used too many times to be worthy.

The damages could have been worse, were it not for the brushguard that Tone offers. However, since its simply a show-bar, it managed to crunch in and mangle the L/R fender as well as the hood. All 3 will definitely need to be "replaced", but that will be a different story once the shop's insurance burns the witch at the stake. It is drivable, but damned ugly with a bungie cord holding the hood shut. The brushguard is toast since it was bent to hell and a spot weld mount broke.

The shop manager "seemed" completely willing to cooperate and made the insurance claim already. He just needs me to get 2 estimates to give to him so he can present them to their insurance. I am a 2 year customer of theirs so hopefully, they respect that and dont try to pull some shady !@#$.

In the end, its just a hunk of metal and nobody was hurt, but it still bothers me that the tech had to try to weasel out of it with "the breaks didnt work" when there was clearly a 4ft skidmark on the bay floor leading up to the toolboxes. Dude, just say you screwed up. Accidents happen and thats understood. Your lying on top of about $3-5K of damages, vehicle and tools/toolboxes, only adds to the disgust.

Thanks prick.

[Ldub]

Man, that sucks Gary. Sorry to see the status quo hasn't changed much around places of that ilk.
Why is it that about 98% of the automotive/automotive service industry attracts such a turd brained level of employment drones?
Good luck with the fix, hope the moron at least hit his own tool box.

[Chopper]

I'd be looking for legal counsel...right after I made bail. I'm really sorry W.G.

[Triathlete]

It came in the form of a high revving engine, a crashing sound, someone screaming "Sh*t!!" and another screaming "Oh f!@#!!".

Yeah, the skinny pedal is NOT the brake pedal!
Sounds like they owe you free oil changes for life along with the repair bill. Hope they make it right. Good luck.

Note to self...continue to change my own oil!

[Mark B]

If the breakes did not work, how did you get their? What BS.
They should just admit that they damaged your VX and have it fixed and give you lifetime service for free.

[navistar]

If you can't trust them to simply drive it into the work bay properly how can you trust them to do something really complicated like doing an oil change??

Let's see...

"Hey Buck...does transmission fluid go in the radiator thing or in the hole that says OIL"?

"Neither stupid, it goes in the windshield washer squirt bottle thing."

"Oh...I already filled that up with antifreeze!"

"Nah...the antifreeze goes in the hole that says OIL."

"What'll I do with all this oil?"

"Put it in the radiator, stupid!"

[cyronman]

I know nothing you read here will make up for that...
but still, I'll add my "that blows".

I can't imagine...

[Y33TREKker]

Sounds like your supercharger took the tech by surprise and he froze at the controls. Hopefully the claim and repairs will be trouble free.

[Chopper]

No friggin MAACO crap either! They pay for new panels, blend time on adjacent panels, and your car rental fees! DO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS! This is what I do for a living (as I'm sure you're aware) These three things you should not compromise on. They are gonna fight you on the blend time, don't relent. I wouldn't accept repaired panels either. They weren't made of plastic when you rolled in. They OWE you a rental car for as long as it takes. Stay strong...don't hesitate to have an attorney draw up a letter stating these things( and your serious intent) Good luck brother. Chop

[WormGod]

Final adjustment came today. $3300 in damages. Right now, that excludes Tone's brushguard which they will be adding in when it gets to the body shop. Plus, the adjuster looked it over with a fine toothed comb today at my sister's where I kept it and he called me up with a concern. He said there is a small puddle, the size around of an orange, of antifreeze in the street under it. He looked all over for a leak in the radiator in case he had to add it, but he couldnt find any moisture. He put down questionable damage to be investigated by the body shop in case something was damaged along the coolant system. Overall, best insurance adjuster I have ever dealt with. I wish they were all as thorough and respectful as he was. Sadly, he had never seen or heard of a VehiCROSS, hahaha. First time ever writing one up. He was just coming back from doing the shop estimate on their damages. He said between the toolboxes, tools, and the wall, they were looking at over $10k in damages. Hahahaha.... that tech must feel like DiRt!

Since the hood IS being replaced, I am gonna speak with the body shop about some possible cutting and spotting previous to paint to make the scoop functional. Get them to paint that insert as well since it has seen better days.

[nfpgasmask]

Wow, I missed this thread. That sucks Worm, I always liked looking at the pics of your shiny Ebony. I hope you get it all worked out in the end.

This is precisely why I will continue to try to do as much work on my VX as I can.

Uggg,

Bart

[AndyC]

Sad to hear but at least it sounds like it's going to be repaired right.

[Rooster]

Tough luck WG. Hope they do you right. Hey, if you need some parts, theirs a '01 Kaiser Silver in a JY up here in NH. Not sure whats left, but it seemed to be pretty well intact the last time I saw it.

[WormGod]

They looked up parts availability when doing the estimates and there is NO shortage of parts to be found (thought I would shout that for those that beg to differ, heh). Of course, that went for body panels. I am sure a steering box or a brake solenoid would be a different story.

Sadly, after a short phone call yesterday, they will not make an attempt to mod the hood for airflow. They will, but only AFTER it is repaired and signed off on. For insurance reasons. They will be glad to work with it AFTER all is said and done, but hell, I want the work done BEFORE the hood sees any paint, heh. Ah well, another day, another dollar. I can understand their reasoning.

[WormGod]

Picked her up yesterday and she looks as good as new. These guys babied the hell out of her. I swear they even gave me the Presidential detail job before delivery. Slapped the Klearz on when I got her home and she is good to go.

I am a happy VXer once again. A happy ending to a depressing incident.