STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Languishing In Lancaster, TX For Truck Repairs

January 30, 2006 on 11:45 pm | In On The Road |

On the 27th, after delivering my load in Dallas, I drove to our Terminal in Lancaster, TX and put my truck in the shop. Yesterday when I fueled in Albuquerque, I had to put 4 gallons of oil in the engine. I just had an oil change less than a month ago, so I knew something was woefully amiss. This AM before starting out I looked under my truck, and found not 1 but 2 different leaks. One coming from the rear of the engine and the other coming from the transmission. I listed the following discrepancies on the “red tag”:
1) Engine oil leak.
2) Transmission leak.
3) Engine coughs and sputters under a load.
4) Windshield washer inop.
I had to wait for 2 hours to get into the shop. After my truck was in the shop for about 3 hours ( a total of 5 hours since my arrival), I grew weary of “wrestling” with the BCC, and decided to get a motel for the night. I asked which motel that Swift uses because they will take pets, and furnish transportation to and from the Terminal. In this area, they use the Day’s Inn in Red Oak, TX. It was about 6 miles from the Terminal. What a mistake. The only food available within reasonable walking distance was a Subway and a ‘fast’ Pizza place at the nearby truckstop, and a Chinese Buffet on the opposite side of the motel. The rooms were small, but servicable. Mine was conveniently located near the lobby and a ‘grassy knoll’ for the MMM. Later, I noticed that there was a Red Roof Inn about 1 1/2 miles from the Terminal with an Outback Steakhouse, a good local Mexican restaurant and a Cracker Barrel within walking distance. I should have gone there. It probably would have been worth any extra expense just to have edible food available. I settled in for the seige.
On the 28th, I was awakened at about 0600 by a deluge. After a soggy walk with the MMM and partaking of the free continental breakfast, I called the shop at about 0900. I was informed that they had isolated the engine leak and the transmission leak and had to order some parts. They had yet to start on the “coughing” or the WSW. I asked for a ‘firm’ ETA and was told that it would be late that afternoon or tomorrow morning before it would be ready. I decided to stay another day right where I was. I didn’t want to have to deal with the MMM and the deluge all day on the chance that my truck might be ready this afternoon. I called the desk at the motel and extended my stay. It turned out to be a record setting day for rainfall on this date, so I think my decision was prudent.
On Sunday, the 29th, the weather had cleared. After the MMM walk and another complementry continental breakfast, I again contacted the shop. They said my truck would be ready just after noon. I decided to take the 1030 shuttle back to the Terminal. It finally left about 1100. When we arrived at the Terminal, the MMM immediately headed for the nearest shrubbery. By the time I got them settled down, the shuttle was leaving the parking lot with my overnight bag, my computer, my external CD drive, and the MMM’s food and water. I immediately called the motel. The driver had his cell phone with him, so I expected the ‘desk lady’ to call him and have him return with my bags. No such luck. I should have known what to expect, because when I was checking out I noticed that the ‘desk lady’ was watching a “Jerry Springeresque type show, en espanol. I had to wait for his next scheduled trip at 1230. Meanwhile, I locked the MMM in “doggie jail”. I didn’t notice the kennels on Friday when I was ‘wrestling’ with them outside the shop. They were actually quite nice.

I then checked on the truck. The mechanic had just started to install the valve cover gasket, a 2 hour job. After finally retrieving my luggage, my truck was ready. I told the mechanic that I wanted to road-test my truck before it was released from the shop to ensure that the “coughing problem” was solved. During the road-test I noticed a “whistling sound” when I accelerated. The “coughing” seems to be solved though. Back into the shop to find the new noise. It turned out to be (as I suspected) loose clamps on the air to air tube which they had replaced to solve the “coughing” problem. The mechanic tightened all the clamps in the whole system and performed a leak test (what the original mechanic should have done). I was finally released from the shop at 1700. Three days driving lost, and GOD only knows what the total bill will be. I don’t think that either of the leaks, or the WSW will be under warranty.