I'm going to start using one of my tractors to go to the store!

With three cars in the normal daily driver status for two people we are down to one---and that one is injured :AHHH:

First, the 2016 Explorer had no AC on the first day of need---and it still has none:AHHH: It has been sitting since May. That has rear seat AC--complete with an evaporator coil in the rear. The Dx lines (or one line) failed and lost the charge. The only fix is to replace the lines (trust me---I tried all the options), the problem is---there are no replacement lines. It turns out this was a systemic problem and they have now redesigned the lines and they may become available sometime in Sept---at a cost of $1700.00. The cost is due to the little complication that the entire rear suspension sub-frame has to be dropped. So, with a bit of luck the repair would happen about the time we don't need AC any more.:hatoff: I have every intent of going after Ford on that one.

Next up---the Mercedes left here on a roll back a couple of months ago and hasn't been seen since:o: Long story short---it was eaten by chipmunks. They seemed to have moved into the trunk, after eating their way through a plastic panel, and then proceeded to eat wiring, mats and rear seat padding---I have no ETA on that return. The good news is State Farm is paying for that (mostly).

Then we come to the 2020 Explorer, with all of 2200 miles on it. It has lost it's mind :doh: It was on the couch this week for about 4 hours and they recovered some things (like seat settings memory) but more important functions like side warning, auto cruise control et al are still among the missing. All has been tracked to a bad sensor behind the rear bumper---so next week it goes back for that replacement. I don't know how long it will take since they have to apparently remove the back of the car (actually the bumper)--but they are providing a courtesy car.

It's a good thing there is a back-up crew in the barn:help:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave Grubb

......

It's a good thing there is a back-up crew in the barn:help:

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I'm thinking Dave hasn't check that one for squirrels, mice and other rodents yet.

When it rains it pours.
I wonder how much it costs to replace the rear wiring harness of a rare Grosser Merc?

I remember making pretty good money on older Suburbans with dual air conditioning...:cigar:...Ben

$4000 for a full wiring harness on a 2003 F350 6.0 diesel....mice

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TriGuy

$4000 for a full wiring harness on a 2003 F350 6.0 diesel....mice

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They probably had to take the whole cab off to do the job...............

Man, car problems are a PITA, they always seem to hit at the worst time.

May it go well for you, Dave.

Hunter

Slowly things are coming around :cool:

The 2020 Explorer came home yesterday after being at the dealer's for a week--it was more than a single sensor. My wife was glad to get "my" car back--she didn't have much good to say about the courtesy car they gave her. There was no cost associated with that---at 2200 miles.

Today the MB dealer called and the S-550 will be done tomorrow. They sent me the bill---$7530.76 to feed the damn chipmunks :nuts: Not sure what portion of that is mine. They did state inspection while it was there and both lower control arms needed to be replaced (@50,000 miles!) that cost is on the MB warranty but it looks like I have to pay for the alignment ($199.00).

The 2016 Explorer continues to enjoy only occasional use when the weather is cool enough to not need AC---which has been very rare this summer. At last word the redesigned parts are expected to be available on Sept. 16th ---who knows :dunno:

I guess the Corvette will go back to the barn tomorrow and resume it's position between two Olivers :maybe:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave Grubb

They did state inspection while it was there and both lower control arms needed to be replaced...

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Utah stopped doing the inspections. I figure it'll take about 5 years to realize the mistake.

Hunter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UTAH

Utah stopped doing the inspections. I figure it'll take about 5 years to realize the mistake.

Hunter

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I cannot remember PA not having state inspection and it used to be twice a year--now it is once. Twice a year was a pain, once is far more manageable. We also have emissions testing.

When I lived in Indiana, while in college, in the late 60's there was no state inspection and an abundance of salt---the condition of many cars was deplorable. I was driving a 57 Ford beater. You could stand on one side of the street and see the sidewalk on the other---through the car! It was common to see headlights duct taped into the fenders.

An incident that happened close to us helped to impose a State inspection in Indiana. A young mom was on her way home with her very young child in the back seat. When she got home the child was missing----it had fallen through the floor boards and was killed. :down:

That change imposed a financial hardship on a lot of people who could least afford it but I am sure prevented many from injury or death.

Do you really need a state to tell you your child is in danger?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillbo

Do you really need a state to tell you your child is in danger?

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I have to guess that means you never lived in the mid-west :shrug:

The sad but true answer to your question is---yes.

And--in case you are wondering---I am sure no criminal charges were filled----nor in my opinion should have been.

Here it's run the car thru emissions 1 or every 2 years depending on how you pay the fees. Car could be a junker and if it passes emissions you are golden till the next time. Figure where there's snow/salt it's a whole lot worse.

Vehicle Emissions testing is just a money grab these days. Not many cars on the road that will fail. I register my cars using a Flagstaff address so i don't have to deal with it.

We now have two working daily drivers. The 2016 Explorer which has mostly sat since early May without AC is now pushed back until mid-Oct for the required parts---insane :redmad:

The 2020 Explorer has found it's mind again (after 4 days at the dealer) and seems to be OK.

The Mercedes came back on Friday. The chipmunk caper came to $6200 and change--only $100 of which I paid. It looks like new :cool: I also paid $50 for state inspection. The front end work, including the alignment that I thought I was going to have to pay for was covered under the warranty. We drove it for a day's outing in Lancaster County yesterday--it was a pleasure.