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

  1. #1
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    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

    First, the 2016 Explorer had no AC on the first day of need---and it still has none 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. 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 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 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
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Grubb View Post
    ......

    It's a good thing there is a back-up crew in the barn
    I'm thinking Dave hasn't check that one for squirrels, mice and other rodents yet.
    Fred

    "Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've
    stayed alive."

    'Take care of yourself, and each other.'

  3. #3
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    When it rains it pours.
    I wonder how much it costs to replace the rear wiring harness of a rare Grosser Merc?
    ...............
    “You can vote your way into socialism, but you have to shoot your way out.” — Too fundamental to have an attribution


  4. #4
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    I remember making pretty good money on older Suburbans with dual air conditioning......Ben
    The future is forged on the anvil of history...The interpreter of history wields the hammer... - Unknown author...

  5. #5
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    $4000 for a full wiring harness on a 2003 F350 6.0 diesel....mice
    "The only thing that we learn from torture is the depths of our own moral depravity"

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by TriGuy View Post
    $4000 for a full wiring harness on a 2003 F350 6.0 diesel....mice
    They probably had to take the whole cab off to do the job...............
    OPINION....a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

  7. #7
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    Man, car problems are a PITA, they always seem to hit at the worst time.

    May it go well for you, Dave.

    Hunter
    I don't care if it hurts. I want to have control. I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul. - Creep by Radiohead

  8. #8
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    Slowly things are coming around

    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 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

    I guess the Corvette will go back to the barn tomorrow and resume it's position between two Olivers
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    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave Grubb View Post
    They did state inspection while it was there and both lower control arms needed to be replaced...
    Utah stopped doing the inspections. I figure it'll take about 5 years to realize the mistake.

    Hunter
    I don't care if it hurts. I want to have control. I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul. - Creep by Radiohead

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by UTAH View Post
    Utah stopped doing the inspections. I figure it'll take about 5 years to realize the mistake.

    Hunter
    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.

    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.
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  11. #11
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    Do you really need a state to tell you your child is in danger?

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Phillbo View Post
    Do you really need a state to tell you your child is in danger?
    I have to guess that means you never lived in the mid-west

    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.
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

  13. #13
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    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.
    Fred

    "Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've
    stayed alive."

    'Take care of yourself, and each other.'

  14. #14
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    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.

  15. #15
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    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

    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 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.
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty” ---Sir Winston Churchill
    "Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all." ---John W. Gardner
    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ---C. S. Lewis

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