The Brake !! The Brake !!!!

Kim Sat May 27, 2017 12:13 pm

So, being all wired up and prepping for my run to Little Rock, I make an appointment for an oil change at the local dealer where I bought my van.

On recommendation by the manager, I gave an OK to a tire rotation and, though it sounds a bit wonky, changing of my brake fluid. Got a courtesy ride back to the house, where I continued my prep for the trip AND feeling pretty cagey for having all this going on at once.

Got back to the dealership late in the afternoon, paid my bill, and headed out. My mind obviously on other things, I DID think to myself, "Man those brakes MUST of had some air in the system! That pedal sure is a lot harder now!"

Still congratulating myself on my uber responsibleness, I opened the driver's side door this morning and was treated to this sight!

I've been told that my motorcycles would kill me, my ultralight would kill me, my Pietenpol would kill me, and, one way or another, one of my guns would kill me...but how about the irony of being taken out by a chunk of 2x4 !!!!

If not for my two divorces, this would look really scary !!!

Now, I'm in the process of checking all the wheels' lug nuts...'lest Ole Paint throw a shoe on the way to the round-up!

Still Alive Kim

getback Sat May 27, 2017 12:22 pm

What the !!!! is that all about ?!?!? did you call those people and address this >? I worked on autos for a many years and never seen anything like that for any reason . Yes you are Lucky and happy to hear you're alright !! Beer Cheers

Kim Sat May 27, 2017 12:25 pm

getback wrote:What the !!!! is that all about ?!?!? did you call those people and address this >? I worked on autos for a many years and never seen anything like that for any reason . Yes you are Lucky and happy to hear you're alright !!

Yeah...called this morning and , of course nobody was there, but the answering service girl took my number. With Monday being a holiday, figure to slide by on my way out Tuesday to return their very specialized tool !!!

dckrsn Sat May 27, 2017 1:36 pm

If you don't at least get a free oil change out of this, I'd
tell 'em adios *%#@*'s. Glad you spotted it.
Bob

fredvon4 Sat May 27, 2017 2:08 pm

Brother Kim I am an old hand at this, and could go on for three pages of similar exploits

I even used to get over insane with these FUBARS...but mellowed a lot in my old age

Had 3 lug nuts fall off on way home for a "service" once upon a time

While I am having a hard time wondering the need for a 2x4 under the pedal, I have to assume there is some travel limit reference in the shop manual--- for that vehicle--- and obviously the tech did not remove his "tool"

Bottom line is--- YOU- caught it-- BEFORE a disaster!

Enjoy your SMALL TRIP, fellowship, and flying

mini bike, skate board, motorcycle, ultra lite, F-450, Boeing 777....walking out to the mail box

ALL WILL KILL YOU>>>

jest sayin

Kim Sat May 27, 2017 2:12 pm

dckrsn wrote:If you don't at least get a free oil change out of this, I'd
tell 'em adios *%#@*'s. Glad you spotted it.
Bob

Oh, I've been brewing about it. I'm highly irritated with myself in that I didn't spot it while still in their lot, but I was in a hurry, climbed in the cargo side door, and took off for a dinner date. Not sure what purpose it served in changing the brake fluid, but they'd do good to perform a walk-around after their work is finished.

I've had other issues with this bunch, so I'll probably change over to the guy who's been maintaining my HHR for several years.

Marleysky Sat May 27, 2017 3:21 pm

HOLY CRAP!! They did that? When you removed the wood block, do you still have Brake pressure at the pedal? I know those service/ sales people like to prey on us to treat our cars ( truck SUV, whatever) as a member of the family. But it ticks me off when I'm sold a service, only to have it done poorly, if at all.

I change my fluids daily, beer in, water out, water in, water out, milk in, water out. I like my daily happy hour as it DOES keep me happy.

https://www.cars.com/articles/2013/12/does-brake-fluid-need-to-be-changed/

PS: pls excuse my ramblings. What I ment to say was....Glad you putting Safety First, in the cross country road trip. Drive carefull and take lots of video!

**Admin** Sat May 27, 2017 5:07 pm

They owe you more than an apology. They should really give you all your money back. What if you got in an accident and killed yourself or someone else? That auto shop would've been at fault. A block under the pedal? Are you frickin' kidding me? That's even worse than something installed improperly or defective!

I'd check everything over, make sure all the lug nuts are tight, master cylinder reservoir is full, make sure the oil level is not too high or low...

A friend of mine took his 1990s Jeep Cherokee in for an oil change at one of those quick oil change shops. Shortly after driving away, he started to smell burning oil...thinking it was just from a little oil spilled on the exhaust manifold, he drove on, but after parking in a parking lot, he noticed oil all over the place and dripping below. He lifted the hood and noticed that oil had been spraying from between the oil filter and block. It turns out the old oil filter gasket had stuck to the block, and now there was two gaskets with the addition of the new one on the filter, allowing the filter to loosen up.

This is the reason why I prefer to do as much work to my own vehicles as I can.

balogh Sat May 27, 2017 11:56 pm

Kim wrote:
dckrsn wrote:If you don't at least get a free oil change out of this, I'd
tell 'em adios *%#@*'s. Glad you spotted it.
Bob

Oh, I've been brewing about it. I'm highly irritated with myself in that I didn't spot it while still in their lot, but I was in a hurry, climbed in the cargo side door, and took off for a dinner date. Not sure what purpose it served in changing the brake fluid, but they'd do good to perform a walk-around after their work is finished.

I've had other issues with this bunch, so I'll probably change over to the guy who's been maintaining my HHR for several years.

How buzarre!!!!

I assume the car mechanic wanted to keep the master cylinder in a fully released pedal position to make sure the system is completely filled with fresh oil?

Oldenginerod Sun May 28, 2017 3:44 am

balogh wrote:
Kim wrote:
dckrsn wrote:If you don't at least get a free oil change out of this, I'd
tell 'em adios *%#@*'s. Glad you spotted it.
Bob

Oh, I've been brewing about it. I'm highly irritated with myself in that I didn't spot it while still in their lot, but I was in a hurry, climbed in the cargo side door, and took off for a dinner date. Not sure what purpose it served in changing the brake fluid, but they'd do good to perform a walk-around after their work is finished.

I've had other issues with this bunch, so I'll probably change over to the guy who's been maintaining my HHR for several years.

How buzarre!!!!

I assume the car mechanic wanted to keep the master cylinder in a fully released pedal position to make sure the system is completely filled with fresh oil?

As a mechanic, I can see no reason for using this block of wood under the pedal. Clearly it allowed enough brake pedal movement to get you home in relative safety, so it wasn't completely blocking the pedal in the released position. Maybe, if the mechanic was trying to bleed the brakes on his own, he used the block to wedge the pedal down so he could then duck under the car and release the bleed screw. Maybe the block was unwittingly left there and just got kicked under the pedal. Normally you would bleed brakes with two people, so a block wouldn't be necessary. Mind you, I have done it that way myself. Rolling Eyes

Kim Sun May 28, 2017 5:30 am

Yeah, it makes no sense. It REALLY ticks me off that I didn't notice it when I took the van. Trying to get back to my prep, but it IS playing on me.

rsv1cox Sun May 28, 2017 7:03 am

Brakes????? I need a break. Sad

Remember how I used to talk about buying the "worst of the worst" Enyas and rebuilding them? Well, it continues on a larger scale.

Glad you made it home ok Kim.

pkrankow Sun May 28, 2017 10:06 am

Having done numerous brake fluid changes on my own vehicles, and before I could drive with my Dad on family and side-job vehicles, over the years I don't see why a block of wood would even be used. A jar and a piece of hose are all that are needed... OR in a time-constrained professional sense 4 jars and pieces of hose. Gravity bleeding does the job quickly (sorta) and efficiently. To the best of my knowledge gravity bleeding works on all makes models and years of cars, or at least everything newer than the late 60's. It works properly on 1st gen ABS as well as Mopar spool valves in older Jeeps.

For most cars it takes about 20 minutes per wheel to remove 8 oz of fluid.

Phil

KariFS Sun May 28, 2017 11:00 am

Wow, they installed a genuine Soviet ABS module free of charge Damn!

Humor aside, that is a really serious mistake, glad you are OK.

I think it is a good idea to change your brake fluid every now and then. I have had it done to all my cars at some point (I usually buy 5+ year old second hand cars). Prevents a lot of hassle later on.

I once had a chance to see how it was done professionally on my '97 Passat (with ABS). The guy used a pump to empty the reservoir, filled it with fresh fluid and then used another vacuum device on the bleeding nipples on each wheel, adding fresh fluid to the reservoir as required. I don't remember seeing him use a block or any other means to prevent the pedal from moving, but would a block be necessary to prevent the pedal from moving to the bottom when the vacuum is applied to the bleed nipple?

Anyway, you can go over and raise hell, or you can use this incident as a leverage to get better service or maybe some free oil changes. Serious stuff indeed and just might cost the mechanic his job.

roddie Mon May 29, 2017 12:01 pm

I drafted a reply yesterday.. but deleted it.. (boring blah blah) I'm glad you didn't have an accident. It seems the dealer didn't put a protective paper floor-mat in either. If they had.. you may have noticed the block. I would only go back there to have comp/factory warranty-work done.. and you could remind them............ to check for wood-blocks left under the brake-pedal. Have a rifle locked in the gun rack. Make them think.

I didn't know that you also own an HHR... you mean the Chevy HHR.. right? Our Bass-player had good luck with his. Is yours from the same dealer as your van?

There's a Ron White (comedian) vid with a bit that he does on having his van serviced. Search; "Lug Nut Day"... It's a HOOT! If I can find it.. I'll post in Redneck.

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