RoadRunner42
Member
TLDR - Shop killed my physical key with transponder, 9 mo old battery and starter (that was probably failing anyway) that were all working prior. How? The shop said they left the key in it overnight, on ON. 2003 Expy, 280k miles. I never replaced the starter, but purchased at 120k.
A few days ago my truck was a little hard to start. I'm at 280k, and I've never had the starter replaced, so I figured I was due. I did check the normal things, and I did find the battery terminals loose, but after tightening, it was still a slow start. I don't have a mechanic right now. I've been doing my own repairs and oil changes since my regular guy got out of the business and now does Classic Cars only.
I got some recommendations from around town for a shop, who has 230 5-star reviews, and 2 older one-star reviews. So I took the truck into these yahoos. The diagnostic fee should have been the first sign. I dropped off the truck and waited for the determination. I couldn’t make it there by closing because I had to go to my second job. So, they pulled it in their shop overnight. They said they would send the estimate over, and that I could go over it WITH MY HUSBAND that evening. Mind you, my husband didn’t talk to them, they didn’t see him, I made no mention of him, he’s never worked on my truck, and I pay for all my service, myself. He picked me up from the shop, and that was it. I don’t need his approval to spend MY money on MY service.
The quote came in at $760+, charging $400 for just the starter. That’s $300+ too high. It’s a $150 part. I called them in the am to see if there was a typo. They said no typo. But they do have lifetime replacements!! So, I declined service.
I went by to pick up my truck, and when I got there, they were “charging it up.” They said the battery was dead, because someone left the key in it, ON, overnight. I don’t know how that happens. They went back and forth, then came back and said the starter finally failed. It won’t start. They said an oil leak leaked oil on it and killed it. Maybe…I am leaking oil, but not enough to deal with right now.
So I go across the street, to a place I used to go to over 10 years ago, get the number of their tow company, and get it towed literally 500 yards. I Get it in there, and they said the starter is bad, no diagnostic fee, and it will be $400 to fix, plus the tow. They pushed it in to work on it, and they find the 9 month old battery is dead or defective. It needs to be replaced. THEN they said there is some security error about my key. It won't start the truck. They can get one made, for about $100, but not today. It's now 6pm on Friday, I'm grounded for the weekend, and rather ticked off, at shop #1, mostly.
Here is the question - What would make my key go bad in this situation? It's been working fine. My Fob is fine. My PATS is fine. Did the other shop do something? What causes a key to go bad? Or the battery in this circumstance?
A few days ago my truck was a little hard to start. I'm at 280k, and I've never had the starter replaced, so I figured I was due. I did check the normal things, and I did find the battery terminals loose, but after tightening, it was still a slow start. I don't have a mechanic right now. I've been doing my own repairs and oil changes since my regular guy got out of the business and now does Classic Cars only.
I got some recommendations from around town for a shop, who has 230 5-star reviews, and 2 older one-star reviews. So I took the truck into these yahoos. The diagnostic fee should have been the first sign. I dropped off the truck and waited for the determination. I couldn’t make it there by closing because I had to go to my second job. So, they pulled it in their shop overnight. They said they would send the estimate over, and that I could go over it WITH MY HUSBAND that evening. Mind you, my husband didn’t talk to them, they didn’t see him, I made no mention of him, he’s never worked on my truck, and I pay for all my service, myself. He picked me up from the shop, and that was it. I don’t need his approval to spend MY money on MY service.
The quote came in at $760+, charging $400 for just the starter. That’s $300+ too high. It’s a $150 part. I called them in the am to see if there was a typo. They said no typo. But they do have lifetime replacements!! So, I declined service.
I went by to pick up my truck, and when I got there, they were “charging it up.” They said the battery was dead, because someone left the key in it, ON, overnight. I don’t know how that happens. They went back and forth, then came back and said the starter finally failed. It won’t start. They said an oil leak leaked oil on it and killed it. Maybe…I am leaking oil, but not enough to deal with right now.
So I go across the street, to a place I used to go to over 10 years ago, get the number of their tow company, and get it towed literally 500 yards. I Get it in there, and they said the starter is bad, no diagnostic fee, and it will be $400 to fix, plus the tow. They pushed it in to work on it, and they find the 9 month old battery is dead or defective. It needs to be replaced. THEN they said there is some security error about my key. It won't start the truck. They can get one made, for about $100, but not today. It's now 6pm on Friday, I'm grounded for the weekend, and rather ticked off, at shop #1, mostly.
Here is the question - What would make my key go bad in this situation? It's been working fine. My Fob is fine. My PATS is fine. Did the other shop do something? What causes a key to go bad? Or the battery in this circumstance?
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