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Outstanding service from Dean Hill Saab Posted by magalar [Email]  (#1325)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from magalar) on Sun, 1 May 2005 19:36:13
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Took the day off Friday to pick a set of used Audi Fuchs wheels at Force5auto in New Hampshire. Denis, a co-worker, ex-mechanic in another life, took also his day so we could chat about life, wheels, and spring in New England.
Concord NH is 400 km from Montreal so we left at 8:00 Friday morning, expecting to be back here for supper. We drove Honey's new ride, a 50 000 miles 2001 Saab 9-5 Wagon 5-speed, because of:
A real cargo area;
A functional cruise-control;
Air conditioning.
18 years younger than my 1983 Audi Quattro.
Everything went well, we met Chris Semple at http://www.Force5auto.com (it was like a pilgrimage for us Audi gearheads...), bought the wheels, had the worn tires dismounted, and took off for Montreal at 3;00pm. Easy. But when there is a pilgrimage, there is also a test, a way to prove your faith... The Audi gods are very demanding deities...
On highway 89, cruising gently at 75mph, just before the ramp for Lebanon NH, the engine died, no warning, no CEL light, nothing.
Put the car in neutral, luckily (#1) we had enough energy to take the ramp, run the red traffic light, keep going on the shoulder, and end in the parking lot of Miller VW/Dodge, without the need of a towing or the highway patrol. Lucky I said. But we are at 325km from home, in a foreign country, with a dead engine, and it is Friday 4:30PM.
Then, because I browsed http://www.saabnet.com a couple times, I guessed it would be the Direct Ignition Cassette that died, even if it was replaced last year. Presto, we called Dean Hill Saab, luckily (#2) only 6 miles away, and spoke with the parts guy there that agreed to take my credit card number, bill a cassette (460$US), and deliver it after its shift to us even if this is not is way home. We are real lucky (#3) this is a nice guy. Did I mention that we don't have a single tool in the car?
5:30, Franck from Dean Hill Saab is there, we swap the cassettes, a 2 minute job with a 10mm wrench borrowed from the nearby garage, just to discover that the car will not start. I guess my luck is over... But Franck tells us that the fuel pumps are also known to be a very hot seller at his counter. Luckily (#4), Franck waits until we check the fuel pump.
Luckily (#5), I know where is the pump. I jump in the car, raise the back seat, open the pre-cut carpet, pop the metal cover, and try to hear the characteristic noise from the fuel pump; pump is quiet as a tomb. Luckily (#6), Franck accept to take off again to the Saab dealer even if it is closed, and will bring back a new fuel pump (530$US) for us. During this period, Denis and I will "try" to remove the fuel pump from the car.
Did I mention that we don't have a single tool in the car? Well, in fact, we have the jack handle and the wheel lug wrench.
Luckily (#7), this will be enough for Denis to unwind the big 7" diameter plastic ring that seal the pump to the fuel tank, unplug the hoses and the wires and finally remove the pump from the plastic tank. Amazing. No need for a simple screwdriver or a wrench... bare hands is enough. Just amazing. Don't bring tools, bring Denis!
When Franck comes back, it's a matter of minutes to reinstall the pump, start the car (it works!!!) and take off for a well deserved Friday night lunch at the nearest pub. On my arm, I tell you.
Did I say that we had no tools, no way of diagnosing the failure, no clue of where we were or where was the closest Saab dealer, but we made it to Montreal before the end of the day? Did I say that I am a lucky guy?
Thank you very much Frank.
Louis-Alain,
1983 Audi Quattro with "priceless" Fuchs wheels.
2001 Saab 9-5 Wagon.
posted by 69.156.16...
, Sun, 1 May 2005 19:36:13 <-- Viewing This Message, Sun, 1 May 2005 21:05:37, Mon, 2 May 2005 06:47:14
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