I just lost in on the car service guy.

[georgeharrison]

My clutch went Wednesday last week.  They had to order a part.  Monday, the guy tells James that it will be done Thursday.  Yesterday I call to get an update.  Nope, no part.  The guy tells me that he's expecting it today.  I asked him if he got the part today, if he could have my car done today, he said yes.  I told him I was going to call him today to see if the part came in.  I asked when the parts are delivered.  He said 8am and 2pm.  I asked if they got the part in the 2pm if he could still have my car done.  He said it would be close, but they are open on Saturday and he could guarantee me that the car would be done tomorrow.  So, he just calls and says that the part is supposed to be in today in the 2pm, but that it will be "too tight" to get it done tomorrow and the guy that's working on my car is off on Monday, "So, we're looking at Tuesday."  I LOST IT.  Oh my gosh.  I'm so mad.  I threw a huge fit and ended up telling him that he needs to call James and talk to him, because I am too angry to be rational.

Seriously, you guys.  I've had a manual like a zillon times and never had a clutch issue.  Now this one goes out at less than 35k miles.  Of course it's not covered by warranty, because it's "wear and tear."  So, the repair is going to be $1200.  Loaner car is not available because it's not a warranty item, so I have been switching between working from home (which isn't going so well right now) and renting a car...trying to keep the expense down. 

During my rant, I called my own car "crap" and said that Fiat as a whole is absurd and ridiculous. 

I hate the helplesness of all this.  Honestly, I hope my husband lays into them, too.   I'm so angry. 

[CrazyLucky]

Is it completely undriveable? Did you already pay for the part? If not, I would go somewhere else. At this point, I'd be worried about what kind of job they would do. If you've already paid, stick with them, but light them up on social media later.

[atlas]

Ooooooh, I would be PISSED! My clutch went out when I was driving home from Portland a few years ago. Thankfully I was near Government Camp so I had cell service and I was able to get to the side of the road by coasting. But ugh, being stuck waiting for the tow truck blew.

Clutches are expensive, but at least I can plan for that. I cannot plan for your lying ass to LIE to me multiple times about when the damn new clutch will be in!

[Deleted]

I don't blame you. Only one guy knows how to replace the clutch? Was it the same person you spoke to who originally promised it and then is now saying "too tight"? What the hell.

[Deleted]

Are you at the dealership or did you take it to a local? If you are at the dealership and you haven't paid I would pull it out and take it to a local you trust.

[InBetweenDays]

I'd be so pissed. I used to own a Jeep Wrangler and had the clutch go out on me right outside of Roseburg Oregon (driving to San Diego). Had to have it towed to the Jeep dealer in Roseburg where they ordered the part they needed. They had my jeep ready within 3 days - in Roseburg! How can it take them this long to get the part/get it done??

[georgeharrison]

Yep, same guy who said it could be done by tomorrow is the one that is now saying Tuesday.

And I can't get it to another shop because even with it being Tuesday, that's still sooner than another shop could order it and get it in. Plus, it's not drivable. It doesn't shift at all. It will only shift if the car is off and you don't use the clutch.

They are going to give us a loaner car now, but that's not enough to me. James isn't interested in "fighting" for any more. He says it's going to be Tuesday no matter what, but I want them to credit us back some of the $ we have spent on rental cars or reduce their labor cost or something. I told the guy that the shop that it's not like I have some fancy car with some after market part that needs to be fixed. It's a crappy Fiat and they have tons of manuals on the lot. It shouldn't be THAT hard to get the clutch parts in.

Seriously!

[sotally tober]

Yea I would be so pissed. And WTF with the clutch going out at 35k miles? That is BS. And also BS that you couldn't get a loaner from the dealership because it's not warranty work? WTH. Don't they WANT your business = they should give you the loaner. They do realize there are other places you can take your car to get serviced and get better customer service from, right? Like a million of them are around. I'm getting irrationally mad for you.

[hazelden]

That stinks! I've heard of people having luck contacting the manufacturer for issues like this, especially when there's a major issue shortly after a warranty expires. It might not get you your car faster, but maybe Fiat will cover a portion of the repair. It's worth a shot.

[georgeharrison]

May 6, 2016 18:44:42 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

georgeharrison, I'm sorry you are dealing with this because it sucks.

But I will say that you made me LOL when you said you called your car "crap", just because the string of expletives I would have unleashed on the mechanic for all this would have made "crap" sound downright complimentary.

I hope your car gets fixed soon!

Ha-ha. I know. I never swear, so for me it was aggressive, but I wouldn't be surprised if the guy chuckled at that as well.

[dana86]

I would have laid into them hard by middle of last week probably and by this point I agree that they should be adding in more than just a rental now. They should be either covering the bill for the rentals you had or like you said removing some of the labor. I dealt with so much dealership crap while H was deployed that I had a lack of giving a crap for their excuses and I even had a warranty but still wasn't playing their game lol.