| Author |
Message |
JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 3:56 am: | |
I apologize for this off topic post. I know there are at least a couple folks here that are familiar with Alaska, so I figured I had a better chance here than anywhere.
I have a friend in the Wasilla, Alaska area that needs a good mechanic. He has an old piece of crap Mercury Topaz with a gazillion miles on it. It's overheating, stalling, and dieseling. It probably has a cooling problem, and he has been told it has a cracked exhaust manifold, and a very leaky exhaust system.
He's a Vietnam vet, and doesn't have a lot of money. If this car doesn't make it, he can't afford to buy another car.
I was going to fly up to work on it for him, but the plane tickets are over $800 right now. I figured, if there was someone in the area with some spare time, or someone knew of a good mechanic that he can trust not to rip him off, the $800 (plus rental car cost) could go towards repairs, rather than getting me up there to start working on it. If I fly up, besides being out a whole lot of money, I'm afraid to find the motor is trashed, and I'll need to spend an extra week and need to buy a whole lot of tools so I can work up there.
Does anyone have any suggestions? |
Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 8:01 am: | |
The best thing you friend can so is ask around town and find an good repair shop. Everyone worries about getting ripped off my a shop, but there are a lot of honest mechanics out there and people will recommend them. What I have trouble with is construction contractors!
--Geoff |
JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 8:28 am: | |
He's asked around, but he doesn't know a lot of people there. He has PTSD from Vietnam, so that has a large set of problems, including trouble dealing with people. He's a really good guy though.
The one place that he's been going to has been really screwing him. He had a steering piece go. I'm not exactly sure which part. They got him for $700, and they were very insistant on putting on 4 new tires, even though he only needed two, and he had two spares in the back seat. When he got the car back, the A/C blower fan no longer worked, and he found half a bottle of gin in the back seat. He doesn't drink, so it wasn't his. They are more than happy to work on the A/C blower now, but they'll charge him for the repair. Not exactly fair, since it was working fine when he dropped it off.
I know it's hard to find a good place to work on vehicles. I've been in LA for about 4 years now, and have just found a good "good ol' boy" shop. The owner is very cool, and knows his stuff. He does have a bunch of Mexicans working there, but they are hard workers and do their jobs well, which is the important part. It's good enough, where I want to start working part time there to make some extra money. Of course, that extra money will go towards putting parts on my car, and on the bus.
I've only been up to his place once, in the middle of winter, so we didn't really get out much. I was only there for 5 days, and I was sick for part of that. Too much traveling just before it. If I spent too much time on airplanes and airports, I end up catching something from the other travelers. It was still a great trip.
I wish the tickets were cheaper, I'd already be on my way up. I wanted to bring my girlfriend up there. I was there in the winter, which was beautiful. It's suppose to be even more beautiful in the summer. I loved the snow though, even though I froze my @ss off. |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 9:59 am: | |
Sounds like it would be cheaper to just buy a another car. $300 will get you something decent and running around here. By the sounds of it, labor alone would be more than that, even from a honest mechanic...labor rates being what they are and all. |
phil4501
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 10:42 pm: | |
Your friend needs to call Chaz Wocell. Specializes in "Beaters with a heater". I will get you the number in the next day or so. He is sure to be in the book. In between Palmer and Wacilla. I may have his last name spelled wrong. |
|