Repairs ... Frustrations!

Remember me writing about the 2002 Dodge Ram pickup that Rick had traded the old Suburban for?
Well ...

We put it in the shop over at Paris - Precision Automotive. That was the end of August/first of September. They diagnosed it as needing the valves worked on.
Rick said that was ok. About a $1500 job.
They did it. The truck no longer smoked. But - according to the owner, and master mechanic, James ... it was missing.
So, with a light put down into the engine - they saw a hole in the number 9 piston.
Little did we know that that V-10 engine is a rare breed! No parts to be found!!! So, change the whole engine.
$4200 later - it runs like a new truck!

But because we were unable to pick the truck up the day it was finished - Rick's dad was going thru all that with his heart surgery, and we were out of town, as well as out of money - we ran just a few days past the 30 days. Now Rick was in contact with them - calling them at least twice a week since he had left the truck there. And he was assured that they understood, and that all was well.
However, due to miscommunications, and misunderstandings ... all was far from well.

Rick was able to borrow the money from Springleaf Financial to get the truck out of repair. He contacted the service manager last Thursday - letting him know that we had the money ready, all we needed was to figure out how to get the truck to our loan officer for pictures so that we could pick up the check to pay for the bill. Oh my! What a fiasco that turned into.
We were informed that we had to have the money to get the truck - by Precision Automotive.
But we had to have the truck to get the money - by Springleaf Financial.
Talk about being caught in the middle! Oh my!!!

Mary Lou, Rick's mom, even tried to just put the repair work on her credit card and let us pay her back with the loan. But Precision Automotive would not accept her credit card.
So for all day Thursday - phone calls, and a quick trip from Santo to Sulphur Springs to Paris ... frustrations, anger, questions, tears, STRESS!!!!!
Friday morning, I called James at Precision Automotive. We talked a long time about everything.
He listened to me. And I listened to him.
Everything got worked out. PRAISE GOD!!!!! I am so thankful! Really don't think I could have handled another day like Thursday!!!!!

We had intended to come down to Sulphur Springs on Thursday, and return to Coffee Creek RV park on Friday.
But our Honda's tire had different plans ...
We went got in the car Friday morning, to go up to Rick's dad and mom's for coffee and breakfast - the driver's side back tire was FLAT! Now these tires are only about 6 months old. No compressor to air up the tire. No flat fix to put into the tire. Nothing to do but to change the tire to the "donut" tire. So ... what an experience! Rick used to change tires so quickly - but with his declining health, he barely can change them at all ... and certainly not quickly! I have never had to change a tire - so I didn't know the first thing about doing it. And there we were - trying to work together, and getting cross ways. But we did it! After so long a time! We got the flat tire off ... and the spare on!
Had coffee - thank you God!
Had breakfast.

Took the tire to the shop. It was not fix-able! WHAT??? A hole in the sidewall - could NOT be fixed! And the shop did not have a tire to match, but could order one. No, could not be here that day, nor the next. So, we have waited 4 days now ... should have the tire at the shop in the morning.

By the way ... if you know of anyone in the market for a good truck -- we have a 2002 Dodge Ram 2500.

Burgundy and silver in color.
With a camper shell - color to match.
Tires are excellent all the way around.
V-10 engine.
Quad doors.
Radio, cassette, CD.
Automatic.

Kelly Blue Book at $12,500. Asking $10,000.
Please call Rick @ 903-445-2682