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Re: Clunking first gear: never use parking attendent garages!

To: kristian@cs.uchicago.edu
Subject: Re: Clunking first gear: never use parking attendent garages!
From: phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov (Philip J Ethier)
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 12:40:14 CST
kristian@cs.uchicago.edu writes >

>        The other day I was forced against my better judgement, to use a
>garage that was not a park and lock, but a place where they whisk your
>car away via lift.
> he said "I tried everything and couldn't find reverse anywhere!" 
> I feel that the oversized attendent-type fellow tried to muscle it into gear.

When I first got my Sonett III, I took it to get tires.  The kid from the tire 
shop was not in the car thirty seconds before he had broken the gearchange.  We 
pushed the car into the shop and I took off the phony little tunnel cover and 
put it back together.  The ham-fisted little creep had popped the ball and 
socket apart!  I managed to get it all back together and they did my tires.  

As I was changing down to Second on the way home, I clashed reverse.  When I 
got home, I took it all apart again and discovered he had bent the bracket that 
holds the reverse-gate detent spring.  All brawn, no brain.  I was able to get 
everything straight and readjusted, so I let it go.

I am not particularly gentle when I change down to Second in an autocross.  I'm 
also sure I used more than enough muscle every time I selected reverse in the 
year I had that car.  I never had a problem.  He must have really slammed that 
thing to cause the damage he did.  Never let anyone you don't know drive your 
car.

>        I am thinking of sending the garage a letter threatening legal
>action, but I doubt anything would happen.

Save your parking ticket.  Get someone who knows what (s)he is looking at to 
check your tranny.  Got anyone who heard the noise that day?

Phil Ethier, THE RIGHT LINE, 672 Orleans Street, Saint Paul, MN   55107-2676
h (612) 224-3105  w (612) 298-5324     phile@pwcs.stpaul.gov
Bless me, Father for I have sinned.  
I bought a Lancia and thought I could win.  - Marty Masters


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