Truck back, still not the end

Yesterday afternoon, I got the call from Haley Toyota that I had been anticipating for 15 days. Yes, my truck was ready.

I left work really early so that I could get down there while their service technicians were still working. Since they could not find any weird noises coming from the A/C, I figured I'd have to demonstrate it for them. I arrived just in time for the Thursday evening rush in the service department. They had four service representatives (desk workers) helping people, and the lines were still backing up. I don't think that they're inefficient, but maybe just overwhelmed with customers.

I finally made it up to the desk and the lady handed me the key to my truck and told me to sign for the warranty work. I about chocked when I saw the total for the work already performed: $412!! How could replacing a seat part and fixing the steering wheel cost $412??? Well, at least I didn't have to pay for it. I signed for the free work and headed outside to find my truck. This may seem funny, but finding my truck in a sea of other Toyota wasn't as easy as you might expect. There were actually 2 other Lunar Mist Tacomas in the service lot, one of them another double cab. But, it had a bedliner, so I knew she wasn't mine.

Before even opening it up, I walked around it, inspecting the new bumper and checking for any obvious dings, dents, and scratches that may have been inflicted upon it by a careless technician or fellow customer. Nothing. Perfect. I got in and started it up. My plan was to let it run for a little bit, then go back inside and get a technician to come out and listen to the odd noise. After letting it idle for a few minutes with the A/C running, it still wasn't making the noise. "Great," I thought "Just like I feared. Nothing." But I wasn't giving up. I just knew that sound would return if I drove it down the road. So, I did. traffic was really heavy on Midlothian Turnpike, which was actually a good thing because it tends to do it during stop-and-go driving conditions. Sure enough, it started doing it a few blocks from the dealership.

I whipped the truck around and headed back to Haley. As I got closer to my destination, it made the noise more consistantly. Yes! I pulled back in the service area and left it running. there was no way I was going to jeopardize my chances of them hearing it. A service guy immediately came out and hopped in. And what happened next simply amazed me. As we were turning around in the parking lot, it made the noise REALLY LOUD. I think at that point I rubbed the dash a little and thanked the truck for being agreeable and exhibiting the behavior for the technician. He probably thought I was weird. We pulled out on to Midlothian Turnpike and it did it loud once more. Every time it would do it, I'd turn to the technician and say, "See??! There it was!" Yeh, he definitely thought I was a freak.

He agreed that the sound was abnormal and told me that I could turn around ad head back to the dealership. He said that he figures that it's either a bad A/C compressor or clutch, and that he'd order the parts and replace them both. I dropped him off, made a quick trip back to the service desk to set up an appointment for next week and I was off.

Driving the truck kinda feels weird after not driving it for TWO WEEKS. I'm finding that it feels kinda like a big, clumsy grizzly bear compared the the agile Rav4 loaner that I had been driving. But don't get me wrong. It's great and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Except maybe one that didn't have the problems that this one has had.

So, it goes back to Haley Monday night. I SHOULD (key word) have it back Tuesday night, so that's not too bad. And then, folks, this drama will be over.

And for all of you wondering about my dentist appointment today, It actually got moved to next Friday. So, no dentist appointment until next week this time. I'm getting nervous already. Going to the dentist can be a nerve-wracking experience.

Hopefully we can get our patio finished this weekend. If the rain will hold off.

Posted by Jeff at May 30, 2003 09:51 AM