My poor buick

[@dmin]

So, the other night I drove my 98 Buick LeSabre (about 92,000 miles on the clock) about 23 miles home and the car was running perfectly. I pulled it into the drive way and parked it. Next morning it didn't start, turned over but no fire. So I call AAA and have them tow it to a close dealership within my free towing circle. I haven't exactly liked this dealership in the past since they broken the piece in the steering wheel that holds the horn wire in place and after going back in forth I gave up and ghetto fixed it with a q-tip. They are a Buick dealership, not that it matters but I just suspect they see similar cars so it's not a new car to them.

Any way the tow guy shows up with a flat bad and questions me about the car I explain it doesn't start and it's being towed to a dealership he gets in the car and starts cranking it about 6-7 times for over 2 minutes straight. I was inside and came back out once i realized it was my car being turned over. I was very upset to say the least, I went on about why it doesn't need to be started and that it won't start and he says to me that he almost got it started and that there is a trick to it. I responded with basically stop and put it on the flatbed.

It was dropped off at the dealership before they opened and I don't hear from them until 11am the next day, okay that's fine, but they say to me, "Well they still can't get it started and aren't sure of the problem and we won't know more until they get it started." I respond, "Okay, so do they think the problem is with spark or fuel?" "they haven't looked into those yet but they think its a intake gasket and want you to authorize 6 hours of labor to tear it down and check" "First of all, have them check fuel and spark and I know for a fact the 3800 doesn't take 6 hours to take the intake off. It took me and a buddy 2 hours to replace the intake gasket from engine cover off to on on a 97 Bonnie. Once you guys check for spark and fuel, then get back to me if it needs to be torn down."

I'm asking If you guys, being car people, think I was being unreasonable or at all being a huge a-hole. I usually work on my cars but with work and all I don't have time to deal with this car right now and will just pay to get it fixed, hey they need work too. This whole thing hasn't been as smooth as it should be in my opinion and It felt like the tone used was condescending. there was a time where they said "It's probably not worth putting money in this old car". Which I let go, but felt that was not professional the car isn't even over a 100k and is in excellent condition. super clean and interior still has that new car smell. Maybe they think I'm an old man being that we never met face to face yet.

Maybe I am unreasonable but it seems like there is a lack of professionalism that I feel I can expect from people.

[Justin Bimmer]

If it is the intake gasket, then they should show you oil from your car that is clouded with water. I had some dealership try to con me into an intake gasket before when I took the car in on a recall. I took it to my real mechanic and said they were full of it.

[FAPTurbo]

I'd say its entirely reasonable to ask them to check the spark and fuel first. I'm surprised they didn't do it first... those are some of the first things any mechanic should check. At least they are when I work on bikes.

The whole point of fixing something is to use deduction to eliminate potential issues. I too, would demand they check the spark, and fuel first before allowing them more time for labour.

[SAmadei]

I'm asking If you guys, being car people, think I was being unreasonable or at all being a huge a-hole. I usually work on my cars but with work and all I don't have time to deal with this car right now and will just pay to get it fixed, hey they need work too. This whole thing hasn't been as smooth as it should be in my opinion and It felt like the tone used was condescending. there was a time where they said "It's probably not worth putting money in this old car". Which I let go, but felt that was not professional the car isn't even over a 100k and is in excellent condition. super clean and interior still has that new car smell. Maybe they think I'm an old man being that we never met face to face yet.

Maybe I am unreasonable but it seems like there is a lack of professionalism that I feel I can expect from people.

I don't think you're being unreasonable.

Well, I am generally anti-dealer. I feel that dealers have some built-in degree of a conflict of interest, at some point trying to sell you a new car. The idea that they are trying to talk you out of fixing what sounds like a decent car reinforces that. I imagine they want to sell you a new car and put that one, after a minor fix, on their used car lot. Used car lots will always welcome low mileage cars, even if its older.

I also feel that dealers tend to want to fix everything immediately, not understanding that some people can't afford to do that, which leads to estimates that quickly go over the value of the car. I also think that some dealer mechanics are not comfortable with the older cars, as the troubleshooting techniques fall out of practice and they don't like looking like fools, trying to relearn what screw to turn to set the idle speed on a old carb. But that is certainly not every place.

As for starting the car, I think its shameful they had the car so long and would not have checked the spark, basic timing and fuel pressure... all simple things to do, which should have led them in a direction to explore. Jumping to the intake it not right, as I feel it would not have led to a very hard start situation.

The 6 hours quoted for the intake comes from their book... and its going to be 6 hours regardless... even if we know it takes less.

Since you do have mechanical experience, try asking them some though questions, mechanically... like, what was the fuel pressure? Maybe that will get them to understand they aren't dealing with a person who thinks whatever happens below the hood is magic.

Without examining it myself, or knowing whats already been replaced on the car, my first impression is that its going to need a fuel pump.

If it is the intake gasket, then they should show you oil from your car that is clouded with water. I had some dealership try to con me into an intake gasket before when I took the car in on a recall. I took it to my real mechanic and said they were full of it.

Typically, this is true. But if the issue is intake related, but not Dexcool related, it could be a severe air leak or a crack, and the oil/coolant would be untainted. I don't think this is the situation, however. And tainted oil/coolant would not lead to a hard starting condition... IMHO, the only way it would affect the starting would be if it was hydrolocked.

[Camino LS6]

Bad service department.

[daves87rs]

Bad service department.

+1

The fact that that didn't check the other stuff too was a huge clue to me. Sadly, my dealership is turning into this kind of place as well.

At least they asked you first. I went in for brake pads (the 99 buck durastop special) and came out with a nice overcharge for a brake adjustment. When they asked me, I could already see my car apart in the background.... I give them a simple job and they screw it up.

When I do buy buys, won't be from there,,,,

Back on topic, no- I would had been a a hole too....it's YOUR car they are working on......

[RjION]

Umm I don't care

Is that the answer?

[@dmin]

Okay, I least I feel better about not being out of line but, its been 24 hours since I last heard from them and It's starting to bother me. I'm getting the feeling that there might just be a bunch of oil changing kids in the back.

If it is the engine though I wonder if it's worth fixing or just trading it in for a new car. I really like the regal but definitely can't afford it, right now. and the cruze is a little bit pricey. being that I drive in non stop traffic every day and auto it another 1k on top of that. seems like cars were cheaper years ago.

[ocnblu]

I would normally advocate purchasing a new vehicle, Lord knows I've done it enough times unnecessarily (just wanted to), but if you still like your LeSabre, keep it, don't let their silence sway you toward doing what THEY want. It's your money, your car. I'd wait to hear from them at least until this afternoon, then I'd call or go over there to get an update. They need to SHOW YOU what's going on with your car.

[SAmadei]

If it is the engine though I wonder if it's worth fixing or just trading it in for a new car. I really like the regal but definitely can't afford it, right now. and the cruze is a little bit pricey. being that I drive in non stop traffic every day and auto it another 1k on top of that. seems like cars were cheaper years ago.

Cars were cheaper... even as little as 3 years ago.

As far as the LeSabre goes, did the engine sound normal when it was turning over? No new clunks, screeches or taps? If not, the engine is basically fine. 3800's are good for 200K+ so yours is barely getting broken in. The only things I can think of if it is not the fuel pump would be all ignition related... coil packs, ETC sensor, crank sensor, PCM... and most are normally easy to replace. Fuel pump is a PITA... probably a 6 hr or more task according to their book... but every car is that way now.

[@dmin]

So I just called and basically said that the guy is working on other cars and there might be a chance he will call you on Monday but most likely Tuesday. I was always under the impression there was a first come first serve queue system.

[@dmin]

As far as the LeSabre goes, did the engine sound normal when it was turning over?

yeah It sounded like it was turning over fine.

[Intrepidation]

Could be lots of things, none of them sound like an intake gasket magically blowing overnight while the car sat parked. Things like the ignition coil, fuel pump, relays, etc. Making sure it has spark and is getting fuel is definitely the first things on the list for a car that won't fire. It's called troubleshooting, its what they should be doing for a no start problem The problem isn't going to be when the car is running, otherwise there would be no problem. Sounds like a very incompetent dealer.