Posted by Ron in Indiana on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at 12:52PM :
Ok I took my truck in yesterday for what was supposed to be a 3 day stay. Today I ran up to the dealer in my Townwagon to get some tools I needed for a job. As I pull into the lot I see my truck sitting outside! I'm ready to chew some butt when the service manager walks out and I politely ask if they are going to work on my truck today. He replies"It's done, they just pulled it out". Naturally I'm confused but he goes on to say that the mechanic stayed over last night and finished it this morning. It seems he didn't have to do everything THE BOOK said it took for this job and he was able to remove the timing case to replace the gasket. I talked to the mechanic and he said the gasket was folded over when he took the case off and that the new was too long also. He asssumed that this gasket was to be applied before the oil pan is installed so it can be trimmed to fit. So instead of a $2700 bill it was $1247 and I got my truck back early. I'm still going to contact Dodge service to see what they'll do and after talking to the mechanic I believe I have a good case. I don't know if my dealer is the exception to the rule but he now has a customer for life. I told the owner, the service manager and especially the mechanic how gratefull I was with the service they provided. The dealer is Auburn Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Auburn, IN, also home of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Muesum and other fine museums. On a side note the mechanic and several others at the dealership thought my Townie was cool. The mechanic said they had a lot of older specialty tools upstairs and wanted to know if I wanted to take a look at them. He didn't have to ask twice. They have a fair collection of tools but the only one I recognized right off was the one to hold the rear yoke on a truck. And before you ask, no they don't want to sell any, rent or loan possibly. Looks like I'm good to go for the trip to Vermont, are you? Thanks to all who offered suggestions on my earlier post.
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