Custom map (e.g. Google) to show sportsmobile mechanics & shops?

[SierraHawk]

I have taken my '04 SMB to have the front diff repaired twice at a Ford garage. The first repair lasted for 5 months but needed to be redone. When I took the van back to them I was told that Ford will not warrantee the work because the Dana 60 is not OME. I was charged for the failed parts that were installed the first time I took my van to the Ford garage.

This past summer we were driving to Oregon via Susanville, California. Just outside of Susanville the van spewed out all of the coolant onto the ground. I looked at the radiator but could not see where the coolant was pouring out of. That particular radiator was installed 3 years before.

It was Friday afternoon. We put enough water into the reservoir to fill it twice and drove to the Ford dealership on the south side of town. Fortunately our van is equipped with the Ford 5.4. It can be driven short distances with little to no coolant.

I was told by the service rep that we needed a new radiator but it would not be there until after the weekend. She said that they would replace the radiator on Tuesday.

That Tuesday afternoon I paid for a new radiator ($400) and the labor ($500). Before I left I asked to see the radiator that they had taken out. The service rep told me that it had already been sent to recycling. Since they were closing and we had to head north I drove away.

The next day I took a minute to look at the new radiator. The top tank looked no newer than the old one. I took a look at the front of the radiator. The first time I checked the front of the radiator I noticed that the fins on the right side had been flattened in a unique way. The "new radiator" had the same flattened pattern pressed into the fins on the right side.

By that time we were in Eugene. Since it was not available for me to inspect, I was not able to confirm that the radiator had actually been replaced. Since the fins were pressed down into the radiator in the same pattern that I noted on the previous Friday I can only presume that they did not replace the radiator with the OME radiator that I paid $400 for.

In these situations I have no clue what to do. Since then I have made a commitment to write down my observations and everything that I am told and take photos of the worn or broken parts and what it looked like after the repairs. Some states have good consumer protections but even then the repair shops are able to circumvent them. It is even easier when they know that you are traveling and won't be back any time soon.

[rionapo]

Master Tech Auto Repair
1221 Calle De Comercio, Santa Fe, NM 87507
15054711121

Ari Gordon is the owner. Somehow the word gets out about him ‘cuz there’s always a traveling vehicle in the yard.

[Steve C]

Alpine Automotive
13854 Highway 55
McCall (Lake Fork), Idaho 83638

(208) 634-5383

Steve runs a clean shop and I'd highly recommend visiting him for general vehicle repairs if passing through McCall...

[unreng]

Originally Posted by REF

We still updating this to the map?

Yesireebob! Added all three garages from this week to the list.

[REF]

Ok, here we go again!! I unfortunately have another shop to add to the list, left side under valve cover injector harness crapped out on the 5 down in Baja, leaving us to limp 100 miles on 4 cylinders through the desert in 100* up to San Felipe. Arranged a tow up to Mexicali with a truck transfer to get us across the border....fun times! I should get a trip report thread going from our trip down there, just too much to write about!!
Anyway, all fixed up now, here’s the details on the shop.....
(Another John Wood recommendation, in fact right across from John, and his friend, no relation to the last mechanic I used)

Robert Nelson Automotive
370 Maple Ave
Holtville, CA 92250
(760)356-4521
General mechanic, electrical, diesel

[unreng]

Originally Posted by REF

Robert Nelson Automotive
370 Maple Ave
Holtville, CA 92250
(760)356-4521
General mechanic, electrical, diesel

Added to the map.
As long as people use this thread to provide references, I can easily update the map.

[Twoxentrix]

For the East Coast:

Maryland Performance Diesel
Tel: 410-354-0340
Fax: 410-354-3719
5199 Raynor AVE
Linthicum Heights , MD 21090
Email: marylandperfdiesel@gmail.com

From General Repair & diagnostics to custom fabrication & innovation to enhance power and performance. A very talented group willing to tackle just about anything you request.