My Car Broke Down...

[FJRocha]

My family and I decided to celebrate my daughter's 8th birthday at Universal Studios in LA. So I loaded up the Suburban (6 people + luggage... lots of it!) and we took off on Friday night from Chandler AZ on our way to Pasadena CA. We stayed at the Saga Motor Hotel and had a great time at the Theme park on Saturday. (Well, at least my daughter did; I was beat at the end of the day and she was just getting started)

On Sunday, we decided to spend the day at the beach, and so we drove to Malibu and enjoyed another great day with my birthday girl. When night came and was time to go back to the hotel, we though of taking one of the canyon roads from the beach to the expressway... as we started to ascend the twisties (all I could think about was "where is my FJR, damn it!") the wife decided that something didn't feel right about those roads and we turned around. Three miles after we exited the canyon road, I heard a PLUNK! ... CLANK, CLANK, CLANK... WHIIIINNNEEEEEEE!!!!! F<>CK!!! The transmission became mulch...! Reverse, Second and Fourth gears were history. The Suburban only had First and Third gears working (with a loud whining noise from the undercarriage) And, so, there I was, with five women talking their heads off, and without transportation.

Anyhow, long-story-short, I was able to drive the ‘burban in third gear to the hotel (about 20 miles; not too bad if the freaking road signs were any good: they usually read “your exit was 1/4 mile back”). The next day I took it to the nearest dealer in Pasadena for service. Then I had to rent an Excursion to drive back home. Now, two and a half days later, the dealer has not even gotten around to looking at it yet!!! :eh: Is that normal service timing in the People's Republik of Kalifornikate? I am used to get a diagnostic in about half a day, for Chris’ sake!!!

I am considering riding the FJR back to Pasadena to get the 'burban when it is ready; but the problem is how do I take it back with me? I am not sure that the FJR can pull the massive 5000+ pounds of metal that I have to bring back with me. The other option is to fly, but that's too easy and boring!!!

 

[twowheelnut]

My family and I decided to celebrate my daughter's 8th birthday at Universal Studios in LA. So I loaded up the Suburban (6 people + luggage... lots of it!) and we took off on Friday night from Chandler AZ on our way to Pasadena CA. We stayed at the Saga Motor Hotel and had a great time at the Theme park on Saturday. (Well, at least my daughter did; I was beat at the end of the day and she was just getting started)
On Sunday, we decided to spend the day at the beach, and so we drove to Malibu and enjoyed another great day with my birthday girl. When night came and was time to go back to the hotel, we though of taking one of the canyon roads from the beach to the expressway... as we started to ascend the twisties (all I could think about was "where is my FJR, damn it!") the wife decided that something didn't feel right about those roads and we turned around. Three miles after we exited the canyon road, I heard a PLUNK! ... CLANK, CLANK, CLANK... WHIIIINNNEEEEEEE!!!!! F<>CK!!! The transmission became mulch...! Reverse, Second and Fourth gears were history. The Suburban only had First and Third gears working (with a loud whining noise from the undercarriage) And, so, there I was, with five women talking their heads off, and without transportation.

Anyhow, long-story-short, I was able to drive the ‘burban in third gear to the hotel (about 20 miles; not too bad if the freaking road signs were any good: they usually read “your exit was 1/4 mile back”). The next day I took it to the nearest dealer in Pasadena for service. Then I had to rent an Excursion to drive back home. Now, two and a half days later, the dealer has not even gotten around to looking at it yet!!! :eh: Is that normal service timing in the People's Republik of Kalifornikate? I am used to get a diagnostic in about half a day, for Chris’ sake!!!

I am considering riding the FJR back to Pasadena to get the 'burban when it is ready; but the problem is how do I take it back with me? I am not sure that the FJR can pull the massive 5000+ pounds of metal that I have to bring back with me. The other option is to fly, but that's too easy and boring!!!

Oh, yeah. Service is always slow here. 'Duuuuude! Check out the narly waves, man! Hello, boss? I'll be a bit late today...'

UHaul rents M/C trailers for $40/day. Ride, rent, drive & tow!

Oh, and thanks for calling to let us know you were going to be in town.

 

[FJRocha]

UHaul rents M/C trailers for $40/day. Ride, rent, drive & tow!

I checked the U-Haul thing, they only rent locally ($14.95/day), no one-ways for bike trailes.

Oh, and thanks for calling to let us know you were going to be in town.

Sorry, but I had to resist the temptation. My time had to be 100% devoted to my birthday girl.

However, if I end up riding to get the 'burban... well then, that's a different story

 

[twowheelnut]

I checked the U-Haul thing, they only rent locally ($14.95/day), no one-ways for bike trailes.

Er? I checked into this a year or two ago and $40/day included the 'one-way' fee. Musta sump'n happened to make them change their policy. How about just a flat bed trailer? Or try Penske/Ryder/et al...

However, if I end up riding to get the 'burban... well then, that's a different story

Assssright! And I'd be happy to show you some nice roads, too. I think Rogue is in Pasadena. You might wanna check in with him, too.

 

[Grumpy]

sorry to hear of your problems. However, this is exactly why I'm driving Jap "junk". I got tired of the breakdowns with the American "iron". Check Consumers Report to verify what I'm saying.

 

[Rogue]

Yea,

I'm in Pasadena. I just checked the U-Hual site, The 5x8 is locaql only but they have a 5x9 with a ramp that can be one way.

E-Mail me and I can put you up on a couch over night.

Also if you don't want to bring tie-downs on the FJR I've got plenty, you could just mail them back when you get home.

 

[Jetmaker737]

OK...wtf? How old was this rig? I'm thinking it was fairly new if you took it to a Stealer.

 

[FJRocha]

Yea,I'm in Pasadena. I just checked the U-Hual site, The 5x8 is locaql only but they have a 5x9 with a ramp that can be one way.

E-Mail me and I can put you up on a couch over night.

Also if you don't want to bring tie-downs on the FJR I've got plenty, you could just mail them back when you get home.

Rogue,

Thank you for the offers, I'm not sure yet how I'll be going back to get the 'burban. The wife is insisting on an early bird flight, mostly for her peace of mind (I rather ride than flight). I'll let you know if I can persuade her otherwise.

The dealer I left it at is the Team Chevrolet in Colorado Blvd. I got word at noon that they might get to look at it today.

 

[FJRocha]

OK...wtf? How old was this rig? I'm thinking it was fairly new if you took it to a Stealer.

The Suburban is a 2002 LT 2WD with the 5.3L engine and a 4L60E tranny.

Just one week ago I finished rebuilding the engine and tranny on my '96 S10 Blazer. Interestingly, the S10 has the same trnsmission as the Suburban (4L60E). I am suspecting that the failing part is the Sun Gear Reaction Shell; they are notorious for breaking at the spline neck. I did some research (googled my way around a bit) and found that the 2002 Trail Blazer (which uses the same transmission) has been know to have transmission problems. Maybe the Suburban has the same problem.

Man, if that would have happened in town, I would have rebuilt it myself. Double damn it!!!

 

[nusman68]

Why heck FJRocha......

Just do the American thing...remove the radiator cap, drive a new Suburban under it, replace radiator cap!

Don't you know, that RIGHT NOW you can buy a new GM for the same price as an employee!! You believe that, right? I mean, they say it on the radio & TV all the time, so it has to be true!

I heard TODAY that you can get a new Surburban for 17K off of the sticker....oh my goodness, how are these poor dealers able to feed their families....please...WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO TAKE ONE HOME TODAY? Uh, what was that? Oh, certainly sir...I'll just need to pass your offer by the sales manager....if you could just give me the keys to your trade in, I'll be right back.................

 

[Vulcan]

Sell that dog.....

 

[Rogue]

Yea,I'm in Pasadena. I just checked the U-Hual site, The 5x8 is locaql only but they have a 5x9 with a ramp that can be one way.

E-Mail me and I can put you up on a couch over night.

Also if you don't want to bring tie-downs on the FJR I've got plenty, you could just mail them back when you get home.

Rogue,

Thank you for the offers, I'm not sure yet how I'll be going back to get the 'burban. The wife is insisting on an early bird flight, mostly for her peace of mind (I rather ride than flight). I'll let you know if I can persuade her otherwise.

The dealer I left it at is the Team Chevrolet in Colorado Blvd. I got word at noon that they might get to look at it today.

Tell her riding is safer than flying!

 

[twowheelnut]

The dealer I left it at is the Team Chevrolet in Colorado Blvd.

Uh oh! Hey Rogue? Isn't this the dealer that's been investigated by Channel 4 news for shady dealings and cars in for repair being 'stolen' off it's lot? :erm:

 

[yanktar]

This is why I'm a big GM fan...

...

...

NOT!

(I had an 81 Citation. It was such a hunk of junk, and I've never been in a Chevy since that didn't remind me of that Citation).

!967: On our way to Montreal to Expo '67. I'm 12, my brother was almost 17. My mom has this gorgeous powder blue '59 Pontiac Catalina convertible. At Ballston Spa, the tranny goes--it won't move. The NYSP send a tow truck from ..... a JUNK yard. It's a Sunday. The junk yard is called Ed's Auto Parts. This bastard knows he's GOT us like a fish on a hook and he's gonna reel us in. He wants that car. There's no other place to tow it--no cell phones then to call--nothing's open and it's late afternoon. ALL he will do is give us a ride to Albany to Hertz--in exchange for the car. I don't think I EVER saw my parents so grim.

But they were smart about it. We rented a car, drove to Montreal, had a wonderful time at Expo and came home. They bought the most innocuous car in the world: A low mileage '64 Ford Fairlane 500 with 30k. The odometer broke at 98,000 miles and we drove the $#it out of that car for another 2 years. I learned to drive in it, and it was dead stone cold reliable. The following summer we drove all through the Southern Tier of New York--my brother didn't come but stayed home with our eldest brother. That Ford never missed a beat.

 

[twowheelnut]

!967: On our way to Montreal to Expo '67. I'm 12, my brother was almost 17.

Birthday 7 July 1952

All things being true, you'da been 15, no? Or are you just rying to turn back time? :haha:

-The Nit-picker

 

[yanktar]

!967: On our way to Montreal to Expo '67. I'm 12, my brother was almost 17.

Birthday 7 July 1952

All things being true, you'da been 15, no? Or are you just rying to turn back time? :haha:

-The Nit-picker

No, I was born on July 22, 1955. I turned 12 in 1967, and turned 50 last Friday. Where did July 7, 1952 come from?

:blink: I think I know when my birthday is! :angry:

 

[twowheelnut]

Your profile. You must have the same affliction I have - fat fingers! Oh, and happy belated birthday!

 

[yanktar]

Your profile. You must have the same affliction I have - fat fingers! Oh, and happy belated birthday!

That was REALLY weird! I fixed it. Damn! I'm old enough already!

 

[XJRGUY]

I live in Burbank, about 20 mins from Pasadena.

Tell ya what.

I'll drive it back to AZ for you, if you fly me back to Burbank.

I have a GPS so I will have no problems finding your house, or wherever you want me to take it.

Let me know?

I'm down for a road trip.

FYI, I own an immaculate $70,000 Jaguar and a Mustang GT, along with the brand new FJR, and have zero moving violations or accidents on my 15 year driving record both here in L.A. and NJ, in case you are worried about where I am coming from.