Well, it might be that my new car is a turnip, not a lemon. ;-) We've had to take it back to Carmax yet again (third or fourth time, I've lost count) because it keeps dying. If I don't drive it one day then the next it is completely dead. They already replaced the battery so we know that isn't the problem. Well, when I dropped it off this morning I asked them if these new cars still have alternators because my old 1978 Firebird (which is very Redneck-style sitting in the garage with the engine pulled out for rebuilding) used to have alternator problems that exhibited the exact same symptoms. The guy at the service counter, who knows me pretty well by now and is probably sick seeing my face in there, said that they do in fact still have alternators and noted that on his papers. The reason I wasn't sure if new cars have alternators is because I do know that most new cars no longer have carburetors, but have fuel injectors instead. I just wasn't sure if the electrical components had experienced a similar evolution as the fuel components.
Anyway, I just received a call from Carmax telling me that they think they have found the problem, a bad diode in the alternator. LOL! Not too bad for a dumb woman, eh? Actually, Carmax has been very good to deal with, and I have never felt discriminated against as I have at every other car dealership I've dealt with. Even though it is past the 30 warranty they aren't charging us for this repair because it has been an ongoing problem. I like the way they do business because they really seem to care about not pissing off customers. Some car dealerships only care about selling a car and not at all about what happens afterwards. Although we've had all these problems with the car from Carmax we will probably do business with them again just because they stand behind their promises, and even beyond.
9 comments:
I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that in the days of carburetors, alternators did not have diodes.
"Carburetors, man, that's what life is all about." Phantom of the Paradise
dh, are you saying I'm full of crap? lol You're as bad as David. He had me all worried last night that I was full of shit about the human species population decline during the Ice Age. I know I'm susceptible to 'false memories' sometimes (caused by forgetting where/when/who I heard something or getting facts confused), but sometimes you guys questioning things just makes me feel like a dumb turnip. ;-) Maybe you're not saying that at all and I'm being oversensitive or something. :-) I don't know that much about cars and all that so don't try to burst my little bubble of feeling smart about the alternator thing. As far as I know diodes aren't a new invention. They've been around in some form for a long time. Sorry to be so snappy, but I guess I'm feeling kind of hormonal or something. lol
Gotta love a car dealer who doesn't bend you over the barrel.
I wasn't trying to be snarky. I just don't think that there were diodes in alternators back in the day. Heck, there are probably computers in them now. :D
Well aren't you just miss mechanic lady? Good call on that alternator and hopefully it's all cured now.
You let a turnip of a car drag you into the 'dumps' - lol!
You can do better than that, what is a car, but a car. Q
PS - I'm like you, I much prefer cars when they go like lemons, with zzzzzeeeessssttt ....
"squeeze that lemon"
I was just thinking, well if it isn't the battery it is probably the alternator, when you came to that. lol. I'll have to remember Carmax whenever I need another car, I've got a while to go on the one I'm driving.
oh yeah, NEVER go to Ted Russell Ford. They don't stand behind their used cars at all. My hubs learned that the hard way.
mr g, yeah, totally! This is the first one that has even been so fair.
rainypete, it's all part of being a Redneck girl. lol I think it is fixed now.
Q, LOL, thanks for the chuckle.
kat, I've heard that about Ted Russell. Lance Cunningham Ford's service department is pretty bad too.
dh, I'm sorry to be so snappy. It was a woman thing. lol
Post a Comment