2103 Sorento that my daughter now drives. About a year ago I had tires put on at my works service department, they were cheaper than the big tire stores, no problems that we knew. Fast forward a few months when I go to rotate, cross threaded lug nut and it just spins, lug and nut. I take it in and ask them to rotate and balance. They fix messed up lug and tell me that it needs brakes on the rear badly. Whatever, go ahead.

A few months later I go to replace front brakes and rotate tires, daughter wants to go to Disney. Cross threaded lug on rear I changed the front brakes, oil and off she went. I finally got around to brining it in for rotate and balance, fix stud last week

I get a text that I need a new rear hub, I go back and look. Mechanic has put a hole in it with a torch getting lug out Hub is $160 they say, WTF ever, fix it. I go back about 4pm to check on it, service advisor says he is out test driving it. COOL.. I see the Sorento down on the lower lot with four way flashers on. I get down there and the mechanic is picking up lug nut on the ground, he went on a ride with loose lugs on the front, some of them came off. I walked away before I lost it. Just fix it. I drove something else home. It was ready the next morning, I drove it home, no problems

I will say that they have treated me fair during the fuck ups, not a ton out of pocket

The daughter had the Rona so it sat for a few days. She took it out last night to go eat dinner with a friend. I get a call just as I'm about to go to bed, 2330ish. The car won't move, dragging a wheel

I get to her and inspect, don't see anything obvious, drive it, it will back up but drags the wheel forward, right rear wheel. The one they changed the hub on She drove it like this from wherever to her friends house

I call AAA. "a tow company will call you shortly" Great! Driver calls after a few minutes, he asks a few questions and says he will call me back with timing on pickup. I wait 45 minutes and call back tow company, no answer, I call back AAA, " you are scheduled for a 0600ish pickup", WTF??? What happed to tow driver? " he cancelled, you need a wheel lift truck" What?, Why? It does move enough for a roll back... "sorry Sir"

I proceed to call them back over several times over the next couple of hours, no resolution, no help. They say they cant find a tow truck and that I should try on my own to get a tow truck. What? WTF am I paying you for? This is not welfare or charity, I pay for a service, WTF is going on? Crickets.

At 0250 I call a couple of the big tow companies in the area, they are booked up all night.. I give up. Last guy I talked to said 0800-1200 pickup time. Got my daughter to stay at her friends and wait for tow guy this morning. Oh yeah, wife works nights.

I get in the bed at 0300 and get up at 0700 I need at least seven hours to not be a grumpy asshole.

I get to work and call AAA, 30 minutes later they get on the line. " the driver should be there in about 20 minutes, and they should be calling your daughter shortly. Great, thanks.

That was an hour plus ago, not a word from anyone The wife is with the daughter now, wasting time and not getting the sleep that she needs to work again tonight Currently on hold again with AAA

Wow. That was a lot of emoji anger, though I can completely understand.

This is why I will NOT let any stranger put their mitts on my or my family's vehicles if I can possibly avoid it. My sister had her Subaru in for an transmission fluid change and the fucking morons emptied it, poured new tranny fluid into the OIL FILLER, and then let my BIL drive it home. I'm shocked it actually made it, but it did.

Everything you described is SO easily avoidable if they get someone that isn't a complete fucking retard or can pay an ounce of attention to do this kind of work. I guess that's just too much to ask nowadays.

The other part of your story about towing makes it tempting to start a towing business, since they are sooooo busy.

quote:

About a year ago I had tires put on at my works service department, they were cheaper than the big tire stores,

What did they tighten the lug nuts with, an impact hammer drill set on full power? Think I'd chat with the Service department manager, if they are doing that to your car, think of what some numskull is doing to customers cars.

TQ wrench to tighten...

Imagine with the labor shortage, tow companies are short of drivers as well...

Maybe have to head to Penske and rent a trailer

Let me suggest using whatever towing service your service department uses. They should jump all over helping a larger account, even if it is customer pay such as an employee.
.

Similar experience to last time I called AAA. I guess I should just cancel it.

Every experience that I ever had with AAA towing was horrible.

My insurance agent suggested adding "Roadside Assistance" coverage to my family auto policy and dropping AAA membership.

I did that, it has much better towing coverage than AAA, at much lower cost.

The service through AAA is about half the cost of you getting the service.

I have had good service except for the last time I used them. They knocked the front end out of alignment by one of the tow chains hitting the right tie rod. Plus they were driving at excessive speeds.

Finally picked up after 13 hours, tow truck driver just left. An extra $100 out of pocket to get it towed this far, AAA said five miles is free.....Really nice guy, I even gave him a tip. This is all AAA fuck ups and miscommunication. Now I get to have fun with service

flesheatingvirus. I usually do all of my own work except for tires, alignments, balancing and thing that would require diagnostic tools to figure out. I was a master mechanic back in the 80's

These retards now-a-days, they couldn't diagnose ANYTHING without a computer to tell them


HRK. Yeah, they tighten the everlovin shit out of theses lugs. I took a lug nut off of the from wheel that the dumbass drove on with loose lugs. I wanted to see if the wheel was effed up while it was still here. I used one of those longer four ways and it took everything I had and a couple of catch my breath breaks to get it off. I'm 6'2" 250. Had to be 300-400 ft lbs or more


OKCGene. Yes, I should have and I have done just that before with results like you said. I just assumed AAA, that the wife wanted works


Jester814 and V-Tail. Yes you should and I will. Great suggestion V

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:

They say they cant find a tow truck and that I should try on my own to get a tow truck. What? WTF am I paying you for? This is not welfare or charity, I pay for a service, WTF is going on? Crickets.

everything else I read, okay, that's tough. But when I got to the above part, that pegged me out. I have not paid AAA all these years for them to tell me I need to find a tow truck on my own. WTF indeed.

As for the repair people, I would find another one, man. I don't mind paying a premium for car service as long as the work is actually needed and is properly done.

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:

Great suggestion V

The last time I used AAA towing, years ago, before canceling AAA membership, the tow included the first fifteen miles with an extra charge for each mile or fraction thereof.

My insurance policy's Roadside Assistance is a $25 annual add-on to the policy premium, and provides up to a hundred miles for a tow before they charge anything. The insurance thingy also covers the standard stuff like tire change, jump start, bring me some gas because I'm an idiot, etc.

Daughters and cars. I am familiar. Things are better since one is married to a guy who has car skills. My other daughter once called with a flat on the interstate 200 miles away. I got lucky her handy female roomie showed up and changed the tire.

quote:

Daughters and cars

Wives and cars: Years ago I was working on contract in the Birmingham AL area. Had a little bachelor apartment for during the week, usually saddled up the V-Tail and flew home to Orlando area for weekends with the wife.

Once in a while, just for a change, my wife would come to Birmingham for the weekend, especially on long weekends (holiday Friday or Monday). One Saturday morning I picked her up at the Birmingham airport. My wife, who is usually neat, clean, and well-dressed, was a mess.

Turns out that she was on her way to catch a dark-thirty a.m. flight out of Orlando and had a blow-out on the interstate. My wife is stubborn, and she was NOT going to miss that flight. So there she was at the side of the road, totally dark, never had changed a tire in her life, with the jack, tools, owners manual, and a flashlight. She had gotten as far as mounting the spare when a State Trooper pulled up, he made sure that the lug nuts were snugged, and put the flat in the trunk for her. She made the flight with minutes to spare and did not have time to clean up.

After reading the title I was going to say send me an e-mail and I'd pick you up.

While the only thing they gave you was frustration, at least you made it there eventually.

Best of luck getting the thing fixed.

I was a longtime AAA customer, even used their car insurance. Until I moved to the Frozen North. Several streets in the northern end of town were still unpaved as are roads going to recreation areas. Our main road in the complex had a short section of dirt road that connected to two paved streets. My ditzy GF was going too fast on the snow covered non paved road and slithered into the ditch, just enough to need a tow. This was a 1 minute walk from my front door. Called AAA and gave the location of the situation.
Their Response: "We cant send any contracted tow company to a non paved area" WTF? In my apartment complex? In the Yoop where the pavement is often in worse shape that the dirt roads? Cost $100 bucks out of pocket (which doubled the value of the GFs ancient Buick) to get the tow done. I put in for a reimbursement for the tow and they did pay it. As soon as they did, I dumped them.

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
2103 Sorento that my daughter now drives. ...

Just wait 82 years and get it fixed under warranty?

Never ever use AAA. So says the Police volunteer who has to tow disabled vehicles away to ensure public driving safety. Never. We will not wait on AAA. We call county-approved services, and get people on the way in less than 30 minutes.

I carry my American Motorcycle Association membership card for towing coverage. They have great service with local wreckers. Also about 30 minutes. $50 a year. No, you don't need to own a motorycle. I do.

Son-in-law is an independent tow truck operator on I-80 by Cheyenne; he is ALWAYS busy.

PC

Chicago and its tow truck drivers are a breed apart. They know where the wrecks are before anybody. They are Johnny on the spot with 18 wheelers which is very lucrative. The city has tried to clean it up with some minimal success. Most of these guys have HUGE dogs with them for protection and intimidation.

I see the usual assortment of vehicles on he side of the road. Much of the time, end up driving by. Most have a cell phone, or others call it in.

If the mood strikes, timeline is ok, & I’m dressed for it, I may stop. That’s usually more rural, maybe adverse weather. Not trying to open the can of security concerns, that’s a given.

I was out West last June, on a dogging trip. On a fairly rural highway I see a disabled car, halfway in the lane. I stop to offer help. He said he ‘maybe’ had help on the way, older guy, low 90’s for temp.

I end up towing him about 8-10 miles back to his house. He’s very appreciative, says he’s got his private prairie dog town only his best friends get to visit. He says it hasn’t been touched all year. It was a great spot, marked for next time. I’ll even bring him a few treats when we meet again.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

Chicago and its tow truck drivers are a breed apart.

Steve Goodman wrote a song about this.

quote:

The Lincoln Park Pirates:

{spoken}
In Chicago where I live, there's an outfit that'd tow almost
Anything off the street. But they deal mostly with automobiles
And we call 'em the Lincoln Park Pirates

{song begins}
The streetlamps are on in Chicago tonight
And lovers are gazing at stars
The stores are all closin'
And Bilandic's been chosen, and Cascio is counting the cars
And there is more cars than places to put 'em, he said
But I got room for some more
So round 'em up boys
'cause I want the toys
Hit the lot by the grocery store

To me way, hey
Tow them away
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we
From Wilmette to Gary
There's nothing so hairy
And we always collect our fee

To me way, hey
Tow them away
We plunder the streets of your town
Be it Edsel or Chevy there's no car too heavy
And no one can make us shut down
We break into cars when we gotta
With pick ax and hammer and saw
And they said this garage had no license
But little care I for the law
All my drivers are friendly and courteous
Their good manners ya always will get
'Cause they all are recent graduates of the charm school in
Joliet

To me way, hey
Tow them away
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we
From Wilmette to Gary
There's nothing so hairy
And we always collect our fee

To me way, hey
Tow them away
We plunder the streets of your town
Be it Edsel or Chevy there's no car too heavy
And no one can make us shut down

And when all the cars are collected
And all of their fenders are ruined
Then I'll tow every boat in Belmont Harbor
To the Lincoln Park Lagoon
And when I've collected the ransom
And sunk all the ones that won't yield
Then I'll tow all the planes that are blocking the runways
At Midway, O'Hare and Meigs Field
To me way, hey
Tow them away
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we
From Wilmette to Gary
There's nothing so hairy
And we always collect our fee

To me way, hey
Tow them away
Now citizens gather around
And I think it's enough
And let's call his bluff
Let's tow the bum out of town