Category: cars

Recently, my low-coolant light had been coming on while driving. Oddly enough, it would tend to come on but then turn off a few seconds later. Since my car is still under warranty, I scheduled an appointment with the dealership for Saturday.

I took the car in yesterday morning and after only about an hour, they came in to tell me that there was a leak in my manifold and that they’d need to replace something (perhaps the manifold, I can’t remember). However, that would apparently take six hours and so they suggested that I pick it up on Monday. They have an on-site rental-car agency and they got me a Grand Am (all under warranty, of course).

Around 3:00pm yesterday, they called to say that the mechanic working on my car got some extra help later in the day and the two of them were able to finish quickly. Pleasantly surprised, I drove back to the dealership to turn in the rental car and pick up my Alero.

I signed off on the paperwork and drove out. The upcoming traffic light turned yellow as I neared, so I planted my foot to the floor to ensure that I made the light. However, as the tach approached the redline impending the gear-change, the “Service Engine Soon” light came on (blinking, no less). So, I made a quick U-turn and drove right back to the dealership.

I explained to them about the warning light and they quickly apologised and took my car back the shop. After ten or fifteen minutes, they explained that one of my cylinders was misfiring but that it was fine during their test runs around the parking lot. Gee, I wonder why it started misfiring when I used it? ;)?

So, they arranged for another loaner car — a Vibe, this time. Once again, they promised that my car would be fixed on Monday. Though I don’t entirely regret my decision to buy an Alero, I’m having my doubts. It’s been in the shop a few times, and I just get the feeling that GM/Oldsmobile cuts corners in their workmanship and quality control.

Please remind me not to buy GM next time ;). Nah, I’m just kidding… You won’t have to remind me <g>.

I was listening to Car Talk this morning on NPR (a rerun from yesterday, I suppose). Anyhow, at one point during the show, a caller asked about the best way to adjust her side-mirrors to avoid blind spots.

So, Tom mentioned to her that they recently featured an article on their website (“the Car Talk section of Cars.com”) on adjusting side-mirrors:

Instead, adjust the driver’s side mirror by resting your head against the driver’s side window and then turning the mirror so that you just see the side of your car. Once this is set, move to the center of the vehicle and turn the passenger side mirror so that you can just see the side of your car from the center of the vehicle. That’s it. You won’t see your own car in either mirror, yet what you will see is far better. Cars behind you show up as usual in the inside rearview mirror above the dash, but the instant the car leaves your field of vision from the rearview mirror the outside mirror picks it up. […]

Tom went on to say that he was skeptical at first and that it took some getting used-to. However, he now prefers this setup much more than traditional mirror-alignment.

I used that method to realign my mirrors this evening, and I’ll see how it goes as I drive around tomorrow.

I was noticing a slight “klunk” in my car (an Alero), as I went around turns around 15 - 20 mph. So, yesterday I took I took it to an Oldsmobile dealership (Sewell) to have them take a look at it (especially since my car is still under warrantee).

I drove in to the Oldsmobile/Cadillac service area, handed over my keys, and waited in the customer lounge. Of course, the Oldsmobile brand is now defunt, so most of the other customers waiting in the lounge along with me were Cadillac owners.

It was as if I had stepped into Sunnyvale Retirement Home — the median age must have been 80 (well, ok, maybe 70). I sat and read some magazines alongside four or five old ladies with badly dyed hair and various degrees of hair loss (the old-age type of hair loss that affects some women).

Scary clientele aside, the waiting area was pleasant and clean. The floors were a shiny-grey tile with a persian-colored rug. There was also coffee, tea, and spiced apple-cider mix at a nearby counter. More over, they also had Krispy Kreme donuts at the counter, of which I had a couple through the course of the day.

As car repairs go, this wan’t too bad. I was there for about six hours, but it only felt like it was maybe four hours ;). All the same, I can’t help but wonder that Cadillac’s customer base may be getting older and older, only to die off over time.